Chinese New Year of the Dog 2018 Drums

Celebrate the year of the dog in Chinese culture for the year 2018 for February 16th by having the students construct and design these traditional Chinese drums typically used during the festivities! Students will be able to determine the role and symbolism of the pellet drum and the color red in Chinese New Year. They will learn the significance and origins of the changing of the animal symbols for each year and how the drum is used in the celebration to scare off the ancient Nian creature. They will make their own drums to play and keep Nian at bay! This project can be tailored to the changing animals of each year by substituting the symbol for the animal. A learning objective, subject summary and application in real life, materials needed for each student and the step by step directions needed to create this lesson are all detailed in each of my lesson plans.