The Ultimate Guide to Chinese New Year Games: Class
The Ultimate Guide to Chinese New Year Games: Class
Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is one of the most important traditional holidays in China. It is a time for family gatherings, feasting, and celebrating the arrival of a new year. Along with these festivities, Chinese New Year games play a significant role in bringing joy and excitement to the celebrations. In this ultimate guide, we will explore some classic Chinese New Year games that are perfect for a classroom setting.
1. Chopstick Challenge
Chopstick Challenge is a fun game that tests participants' chopstick skills. Divide the class into teams and provide each team with a bowl of small objects, such as candies or small toys. The objective is for each team member to use chopsticks to transfer as many objects as possible from the bowl to a designated container within a given time limit. The team with the most objects successfully transferred wins.
2. Dragon Dance Freeze
Dragon Dance Freeze is a lively game that incorporates traditional Chinese dance and music. Choose one student to be the "Dragon Master" who leads the dragon dance, while the rest of the class forms a line holding onto each other's shoulders to create the dragon's body. When the music starts, the dragon dance begins. However, when the music stops, everyone must freeze in their position. The last person to freeze is out, and the game continues until there is only one person left.
3. Lantern Riddles
Lantern Riddles is a brain-teasing game that challenges students' problem-solving skills. Hang up lanterns with riddles written on them around the classroom. Each student takes turns reading a riddle aloud, and the rest of the class tries to guess the answer. This game not only promotes critical thinking but also introduces students to traditional Chinese riddles and idioms.
4. Tangram Challenge
Tangram Challenge is a puzzle game that originated in ancient China. Give each student a set of tangram pieces, which are geometric shapes that can be arranged to form various objects. Challenge the students to recreate specific shapes or figures within a given time limit using their tangram pieces. The student who completes the most challenges successfully wins.
5. Chinese Calligraphy Contest
Chinese Calligraphy Contest is an artistic game that introduces students to the art of Chinese writing. Provide each student with a brush, ink, and paper. Choose a Chinese character for them to practice writing. The students will compete to see who can write the character with the most elegance and accuracy. Encourage creativity and attention to detail, as calligraphy is highly regarded in Chinese culture.
6. Chinese Chess Tournament
Chinese Chess, also known as Xiangqi, is a strategic board game that is popular in China. Organize a Chinese Chess Tournament in the classroom, where students can compete against each other to showcase their strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. Provide resources and guidance for students who are new to the game, and encourage fair play and sportsmanship throughout the tournament.
7. Lantern Making Workshop
Hosting a Lantern Making Workshop allows students to engage in a hands-on activity while learning about the significance of lanterns in Chinese culture. Provide materials such as colored paper, scissors, and glue, and guide students through the process of creating their own lanterns. Encourage creativity and allow students to decorate their lanterns with traditional Chinese symbols and patterns.
8. Dumpling Wrapping Competition
Dumplings are a staple food during Chinese New Year, and a Dumpling Wrapping Competition is a perfect way to incorporate culinary skills into the classroom celebration. Provide students with dumpling wrappers and various fillings. In teams or individually, challenge them to wrap as many dumplings as they can within a given time limit. The dumplings can then be cooked and enjoyed by all.
These classic Chinese New Year games are not only entertaining but also provide educational and cultural experiences for students in a classroom setting. Incorporate these games into your Chinese New Year celebrations and watch your students immerse themselves in the traditions and joy of this festive holiday.
9. Ping-pong Game
Having a ping pong race is a great way to bring a large group of people together and have a good time. To get the ping pong ball into the last glass, you'll need to use your breath power to launch it over a set of glasses. In addition to the game's already challenging nature, you can ramp up the challenge by utilizing smaller glasses or building a longer row of glasses.
In the beginning, split everyone into two groups of five people each, then set up a row of cups in front of each team, with four cups upright and one upside down.
The next step is for everyone to take a deep breath and try to blow a ping pong ball into the last cup. Try again if, at first, you don't succeed. The team with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.
10. Chinese New Year Bingo
The concept is simple and analogous to other forms of bingo. But the best part is that it's a bingo game based on Chinese New Year, so even your non-Chinese employees will learn something!
A short bingo game can be played in the workplace by providing each employee with a card and then drawing images randomly. When one player checks off all their images, all the other players must yell "BINGO" to end the game.
Make sure to have office party gift exchange ideas already in mind to offer them to the winner or winners!
6. Money Hunting
Many people, especially young adults, have spent the whole holiday season engaged with a festival "game."
During this chinese New Year game, people traditionally exchange hongbao, or "red packets," with their friends, family, and coworkers. These "red packets" can now be sent electronically to loved ones by text message or other messaging apps on a smartphone, mostly WeChat.
Everyone in a group chat has an equal chance of opening a red packet (of an unknown quantity until opened) sent through a messaging app, and if they do, they will each receive a random fraction of the total amount sent.