Happy New Year, my Co-Teacher! As we get ready to head back into the classroom, here are some fun New Year classroom activities you can do with your upper elementary students.
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1. Learn about the Different New Year Traditions
New Year traditions from around the world are one of the most interesting things to share with your students. It not only educates students on the differences and similarities between cultures, but it also opens up the door to having them share their own traditions.
A video I like to share with my students is from Brainpop and is titled New Year’s. It goes over several New Year traditions from around the world.
You can also search New Year’s Tradition Videos for Kids to find more available on YouTube.
2. Share New Year Tradition
Give students the opportunity to write about their family’s own New Year traditions and share it with the class. This helps build community by allowing students to learn more about their classmates.
(Click on the image below to download the free template)
3. Research Times Square Ball Drop Tradition
Speaking of traditions, one of the most recognized New Year traditions in the United States is the ball drop in Times Square.
Having students do some research on The Times Square Ball Drop is a great way to get students to use their research skills while applying reading standards. Students will learn about the progress of how this tradition started when New York banned the New Year’s Fireworks Display and ended up becoming a permanent fixture that can now be seen year round.
Making the research timeline into a craft using pipe cleaners and beads is sure to also engage them and make them “Oh and Aw” as they are able to “drop the ball” themselves. It is also a great lead in activity into having your own classroom “New Year” countdown.
4. Countdown Party in Classroom
Students absolutely LOVE counting down to the New Year. Put up a few streamers and provide students with party hats and noise makers. Then, play a countdown video for them. Countdown to the New Year at the end of the day and celebrate!
5. Resolutions and Plans
One of the most important things you can have your students do is to reflect on the first half of the school year and reflect on what their “glows and grows” have been. What have they persevered in and what are they still struggling with? Then, have them come up with new goals to meet and create a plan on how they plan to reach them.
6. New Year Themed Book Tasting Event
A book tasting experience exposes them to different genres helping them find books they might be interested in. This is a great way to get students motivated to begin their reading journey for the new year.
Materials:
- a selection of books
- forms for students to record in
- genre tags
- a few items to set the stage
Setting up your Book Bites:
- Set up a different genre at each station or group of desks. Placing a sign or tag.
- Place a pile of books related to the genre in the middle or in a basket (make sure to have a few more books than students so that everyone gets to choose and isn’t ‘stuck’ with a book).
- Give each student a recording sheet to write down the title of their book and a sentence or two about it.
- After a few minutes, have the students rotate to the next station. Continue moving them on until they have had a chance to visit each of the genres you have set up.
7. Story Map New Year Party Hat
A story map activity is a great follow up activity after students have chosen a book through the book tasting activity. It is also a great stand alone activity.
Materials Needed:
- books
- story map
Several Activity Options:
- Read a book together and work on the story map together as a class
- Assign a book to pairs of students and have them complete a story map together
- Allow students to choose a book of their own and complete their own story map
8. New Year Idioms
Students naturally love learning about idioms. They love to explore the figurative and literally meanings. Reviewing idioms is really important especially when you have students whose first language is not English.
Implementing:
- Introduce students to New Year themed idioms.
- Have them write the figurative meaning of the idiom.
- Have students write the idiom in a sentence.
- Lastly, have them draw a picture.
- Have the students turn their work into a string holiday lights or a booklet.
9. New Year Vocabulary
Introducing students to relevant and timely vocabulary words helps them master the words. Introduce students to words related to the New Year.
Implementing:
- Give students the meaning of these new words and discuss them.
- Then, show them how to search for synonyms and antonyms using a dictionary or online resources.
- Next, help them identify when to use the words by creating brainstorming webs.
- Finally, have them create sentences and illustrations related to the words.
- Once students are finished, have them share their sentences and illustrations with a partner.
- Assess their understanding with a quick quiz.
These words can be taught one per day or as a vocabulary boot camp on a single day.
Want MORE suggestions to help make a smooth transition after winter break?
You can read a more in Activities for the First Day Back from Winter Break.
