Crestview Elementary has long appreciated a rich diversity of cultural backgrounds from across the world. Learning about holiday traditions, as well as family and cultural customs of Crestview students and their families, has enriched the social studies of the first grade.  

This year, the Lunar New Year fell on January 29, and first graders at Crestview celebrated the Chinese tradition by diving deep into the culture. They welcomed the Year of the Snake, discovering that each year brings not only a new animal but also new characteristics. The Snake, symbolizing wisdom and transformation, encourages personal growth and change. 

The first-grade teachers at Crestview incorporated information from interviews with several international Texas Tech students to help sculpt this Lunar New Year unit of study. Students learned the history of the New Year celebrations in Chinese culture, facts about the lunar calendar, and how it guides the date of the holiday.  

They discovered various traditions, including travel, special foods, parades, wearing red, and using noisemakers and firecrackers. Students practiced eating with chopsticks, created red envelopes and New Year banners, and gathered to watch Lion Dance competitions and parades. They also heard traditional stories about eating dumplings, fish, and long noodles. 

Saundra Wimberley, a first-grade teacher at Crestview described how the first graders led a parade through the halls of the school wearing red, banging and clacking with a plethora of noisemakers, waving artwork from the Year of the Snake, and chanting “Happy New Year” in Chinese.  

“What a happy time to make a lot of noise and celebrate Lunar New Year,” said Wimberley. "To soak in a great social studies lesson about cultures of their world.”  

Wendy Killough, another first-grade teacher at Crestview, stated that she had several Asian students in her class this year who helped everyone learn to say several Chinese phrases. She explained that the students loved sharing their experiences and culture with their peers.  

Through their exploration of the Lunar New Year, the first graders at Crestview Elementary gained a deeper appreciation for the rich cultural traditions that shape the world. By learning about the history and culture surrounding the Lunar New Year, the first graders are ready to take on the Year of the Snake.