New Year Activities
Make something...
Ema Prayer Boards
Click here to learn how to write dragon in kanji
This is how to write dragon in hiragana
たつ
Grab some card or your iPad and design your own "Ema" or Prayer board. Don't forget to include the year 2024 and a picture of a dragon. Make sure you write dragon in hiragana or kanji. On the back put your wish or goal for 2024. Use the example above to help you.
Play something...
Fukuwarai - The funny face game.
Grab the game from sensei and play with 2 or more players. One person wears the blindfold while the other people give them one piece of the face at a time. When all parts are on the face, take off the blindfold to reveal the funny face you have made.
Play something...
Hanetsuki
Grab the game from sensei and play with 2 or more players. You will need to go outside to play. Make sure sensei can see you from the classroom. Take care with the equipment. Don't play too close to trees or the roof or you may lose the game piece.
Make something...
おとしだま Otoshidama
Children are not given presents at New Year, rather, they are given small, decorative envelopes (called POCHIBUKURO) filled with money. Children can then go and buy whatever they like.
Make an origami money envelope (POCHIBUKURO)
Check out these
videos...
How to make mochi.
Click here to learn how to write dragon in kanji
Research something...
A good luck charm usually made from paper mâché. Colour in one eye and make a wish. Colour in the other eye when the wish comes true! Then take it to the shrine and burn it. The smoke rises to the heavens to thank the gods. Grab some paper and draw a daruma. Colour it in, write a wish on the back and colour in one eye. Wait to see if your wish comes true.
Draw something...
Choose one or more of the following topics to research and write (on paper or your iPad) a short summary to show sensei. Include some pictures.
* Osechiryori: New Years Food
* Oosoji: New Year Cleaning
* Toshikoshisoba: New Years Eve Noodles
* Hatsumode: First visit to the Shrine
* Joyokane: Ringing the Bell at the Shrine
