Celebrating "Year of the Horse" in Josie's classroom!

I've been blessed that every year since Josie was in preschool, she's been allowed to share her special holiday with her classmates.

This year, we watched a couple of short videos provided by Panda Express, read some background information on Chinese New Year customs, and then each student was given time to decorate a horse for their paper lantern.

They all did a fabulous job.  I brought my hot glue gun and helped attach a googly eye and a long black feather as a tail for their horse.

I also found a "horse" mask at this link which I cut out and attached to a cardboard handle.

Aren't they cute!?! 

The red envelopes, chocolate gold coins and fortune cookies are always a hit.  But the most favorite part of the CNY lesson is the bubble wrap "firecrackers".  We closed the door to the classroom because we were having so much fun making noise with our firecrackers.  

On Friday night, we celebrated the start of the CNY with a feast of Chinese food and letting off a single sky lantern from our very snowy backyard. 

Wishing you a Happy New Year!  Kung Hay Fat Choy!
 

Celebrating Chinese New Year with our Year-Round Tree!

If you've followed me for awhile, you know that we have a year-round decorative tree that receives multiple  makeovers every other month (including some made-up holidays). 

 It's a slender tree that sits tucked in our sunroom corner.

It's now featuring an assortment of decorations celebrating the approaching Chinese New Year which begins January 31st.

As you can imagine, the CNY tree is one of my favorites.  

 Josie's too.

Happy Year of the Horse!

XOXO

Preparing for Year of the Horse!

Chinese New Year begins January 31st and while we were still home with our Polar Vortex, Josie and I worked a "Year of the Horse" crafting project.  This project came from the ever-talented "Let's Go Fly a Kite". I always appreciate her "crafting with kids" projects. All the instructions and the horse template can be found on her blog at this link. 

 We didn't have many red Chinese envelops to decorate our horse, so we modified the directions and used red and gold glitter, glue and sequins.

I also printed off the horse template on brown construction paper.

As you can see, Josie really enjoyed this project.

 Happy soon-to-be Year of the Horse!

Happy Friday!