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Lunar New Year Traditions

A complete A2 classroom lesson with the EnglishDrills nine-colour lesson sequence.

A250–60 minutesCelebrations & culturePrintable
Teacher lesson: Look at the picture and title. What do you already know about this topic? Discuss with a partner and write two ideas. Work through the nine panels in order, or choose the sections that suit your class. Teacher answers and the listening script are stored separately.
Teacher Answers
1 Lesson Goals
Red lanterns for Lunar New Year

By the end of this lesson, I will be able to:

  • understand the main ideas and key details in Lunar New Year Traditions.
  • learn and use important vocabulary from the lesson.
  • use the lesson language in speaking or writing.
Start here: What do you already know about this topic? Tell a partner one idea.
2 Reading
Before you read:

Look at the picture and title. What do you already know about this topic? Discuss with a partner and write two ideas.

Lunar New Year is celebrated in several countries and communities across Asia and around the world. The exact customs are not the same everywhere, but the celebration often focuses on family, good wishes and a fresh start. People may clean their homes, prepare special meals, visit relatives or give children red envelopes containing money. Red decorations are common in some traditions because the colour is connected with good fortune. Lion or dragon dances may be performed at public celebrations. The date changes each year because it follows a lunar calendar rather than the standard calendar used for most international business and travel. For many families, Lunar New Year is an important time to remember traditions while spending time together.
3 Vocabulary
Words: tradition · relative · fortune · calendar · celebration

Write a short meaning or example for each word.

tradition –

relative –

fortune –

calendar –

celebration –

4 Check Your Understanding

1. Where is Lunar New Year celebrated?

2. What do families often focus on?

3. What may children receive?

4. Why does the date change each year?

5. What is one public celebration mentioned?

5 Language Focus

Add a suitable frequency adverb: always, usually, often, sometimes or never.

1. Families share a special meal.

2. People visit relatives during important celebrations.

3. The date stays the same every year.

4. Public events include dances.

6 Listen & Speak

Listen

Listen to your teacher. You will hear the text twice. Answer the questions.

1. What may families do before the celebration?

2. Who may visit one another?

3. What may children receive?

4. Does the date stay the same?

Speak

Discuss with a partner.

• What celebrations are important in your family?
• Which Lunar New Year tradition interests you?
• Why do traditions matter?

Lunar New Year Traditions — Continued
7 Use Your English

Something New

Write three short good wishes for a classmate for the coming year. Fold them, swap with a partner, and read the wishes aloud. Choose the most encouraging one.

Write

Write 80–100 words comparing Lunar New Year with another celebration you know.

8 Puzzle or Game
Vocabulary Detective

Choose four words from the Vocabulary panel. Write a short clue for each word without writing the word itself. Swap with a partner and see how many you can guess.

Bonus: Use one of the words in a new sentence.

9 Success Criteria ✓

Tick each statement when you can do it.

  • I can explain the main idea of the lesson.
  • I can use at least three new words correctly.
  • I can complete the language task.
  • I can share an idea in spoken or written English.

One thing I am proud of today:

10 Show What You Can Do
My final challenge: Lunar New Year Traditions

Plan: Write 5 useful words or ideas from the lesson, or make a quick labelled sketch.

Write: Write 5–7 sentences that show what you learned. Try to use at least 3 words from the Vocabulary panel.

Share: Explain your work to a partner for about 30 seconds.