Reception Celebrations
Carnivals and Parades

Meet Nian monster, which is always chased away from Chinese New Year; will he ever find a festival or parade where he belongs? Take Nian on a colourful journey to Mardi Gras, help him discover the Japanese Lantern Festival and march to the beat of the New York Thanksgiving Parade. Sing, create special art and a marching dance with thanksgiving hats.

Session 1 Chinese New Year

Objectives

Early learning goals

  • Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.
  • Represent ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role-play and stories.
  • Listen attentively in a range of situations.
  • Listen to stories, accurately anticipating key events, and respond to what is heard with relevant comments, questions or actions.
  • Know about similarities and differences between others, and among families, communities and traditions.

Lesson Planning

Listen to the story of Nian, a monster-like creature who lived up inthe mountains. Is there such a monster hanging around school? Children collect red items and instruments. What happens when Nian appears? Can children chase the monster away?

Children will:

  • Consolidate their learning about Chinese New Year by taking part in child-initiated activities.
  • Take part in a group lion dance.
  • Learn about the preparations, traditions and celebrations of Chinese New Year.

Provided Resources

  • The Lion Dance
  • Storytelling ideas for Chinese New Year
  • Paper fortune cookies
  • How to make dragon puppets
  • Messy noodle play
  • Monster masks

You Will Need

You do not need any particular resources for this session.

Session 2 Mardi Gras

Objectives

Early learning goals

  • Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.
  • Represent ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role play and stories.
  • Express self effectively and develop explanations by connecting ideas or event
  • Know about similarities and differences between others, and among families, communities and traditions.

Lesson Planning

Why is Nian sad? Can children help Nian by finding out about festivals & parades and letting him join in the fun? Children will help Nian learn about Mardi Gras; learn about the floats, costumes, music and make preparations for a mini class parade.

Children will:

  • Make shoe box floats.
  • Consolidate their learning by taking part in a mini Mardi Gras parade.
  • Make observations and express opinions about Mardi Gras.

Provided Resources

  • How to make a float from a shoe or tissue box
  • How to make Mardi Gras masks

You Will Need

You do not need any particular resources for this session.

Session 3 Japanese Full Moon Festival

Objectives

Early learning goals

  • Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.
  • Sing songs, make music and dance, and experiment with ways of changing them.
  • Represent ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role-play and stories.
  • Know about similarities and differences between others, and among families, communities and traditions.

Lesson Planning

Children will welcome Nian back to class to learn about the Japanese harvest festival by learning a special harvest song, making traditional bread and creating beautiful charcoal drawings.

Children will:

  • Consolidate their learning about the full moon festival & harvest by taking part in art activities.
  • Make Taro bread.
  • Learn a Japanese harvest song.

Provided Resources

  • Inspiration for harvest art
  • Small world rice farm.

You Will Need

You do not need any particular resources for this session.

Session 4 New York Thanksgiving Parade

Objectives

Early learning goals

  • Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.
  • Sing songs, make music and dance, and experiment with ways of changing them.
  • Represent ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role-play and stories.
  • Know about similarities and differences between others, and among families, communities and traditions.
  • Express self effectively and develop explanations by connecting ideas or events.
  • Anticipate key events, and respond to what is heard with relevant comments, questions or actions.

Lesson Planning

Children will look through magic binoculars to find out about Thanksgiving Parade. They will create their own marching dance and discover which festival or parade Nian enjoyed the most. Time to celebrate all the learning throughout this block with a final spectacular parade!

Children will:

  • Collect information to create Thanksgiving poems.
  • Compose and perform a short marching dance.
  • Consolidate their learning about thanksgiving by taking part in child-initiated activities.
  • Present their learning to an audience.
  • Visit 'Pobble' website

Provided Resources

  • How to do a marching dance
  • Thanksgiving food hats
  • Ideas for the final parade

You Will Need

You do not need any particular resources for this session.