Lunar New Year in the Classroom: When Culture Meets Pop Culture
Lunar New Year is already one of the richest academic themes teachers can use. It blends history, storytelling, math, art, geography, and social emotional learning.
Now add pop culture and suddenly students are leaning forward instead of leaning back.
Below are real, specific examples you can use safely and meaningfully in classrooms to connect Lunar New Year learning to media students already recognize.
First: What Is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year is celebrated across many cultures, including:
China
Vietnam (Tết)
Korea (Seollal)
And many other communities across Asia and around the world
It follows the lunar calendar, meaning the date changes each year (usually January–February).
Core themes:
Renewal
Family
Celebration
Luck & prosperity
Zodiac animal
Lunar New Year in Film
Turning Red (2022)
A thirteen-year-old girl is torn between staying her mother's dutiful daughter and the
changes of adolescence. And as if the challenges were not enough, whenever she gets overly
excited she transforms into a giant red panda.
How to use:
Family expectations vs independence
Cultural traditions across generations
Symbolism (red color, ancestor themes, ritual traditions
Classroom Activity Idea:
Students track traditions shown in the film vs real Lunar New Year traditions.
Streaming: Disney+
The Farewell (2019)
Billi is devastated to learn about her grandmother's, Nai Nai's, terminal illness. So, her family organises a wedding so they can spend more time with Nai Nai, who is unaware of her diagnosis.
How to use:
Family gatherings and cultural values
Cross-cultural identity
Language and translation conversations
Upper elementary extension:
Compare how holidays are celebrated differently across cultures.
Streaming: Apple TV
Kung Fu Panda
Po might just be the laziest, clumsiest panda in the Valley of Peace, but he secretly dreams of becoming a kung fu legend. When the villainous snow leopard Tai Lung threatens Po's homeland, the hapless panda is chosen to fulfil an ancient prophecy and defend the Valley from attack. Training under Master Shifu, Po embarks on an epic high-kicking adventure as he sets out to thwart Tai Lung's evil plans.
Not Lunar New Year specific, but deeply rooted in Chinese cultural symbolism, including zodiac-style animal representation and festival imagery.
Use for:
Animal symbolism
Hero journey storytelling
Cultural art styles
Streaming: Apple TV
Mulan (Animated and Live Action Versions)
Fearful that her ailing father will be drafted into the Chinese military, Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) takes his spot -- though, as a girl living under a patriarchal regime, she is technically unqualified to serve. She cleverly impersonates a man and goes off to train with fellow recruits.
Use for:
Ancestor respect
Family honor themes
Historical Chinese cultural settings
Streaming Disney+
Lunar New Year in TV
Bluey — “Markets” and Cultural Festival Episodes
With $5 from the tooth fairy to spend, Bluey is overwhelmed by all the options at the markets. She and Indy struggle in their search for the perfect purchase, proving spending is hard.
While not Lunar New Year specific, these episodes model:
Community celebration
Cultural sharing
Festival environments
Great for K–3 discussions about celebrations around the world.
Streaming: Disney+
Sesame Street Lunar New Year Segments
Lily, Qui, and Ji-Young celebrate Lunar New Year. They share with their friends Elmo, Charlie, Alan, and Grover how their families celebrate the same holiday.
Excellent for:
Explaining traditions simply
Vocabulary building
Cultural respect modeling
Streaming: YouTube
Ni Hao Kai Lan — Lunar New Year Episode
Preschooler Kai-lan shares Chinese and American cultures with viewers, as well as the Mandarin language. The play-along series features interactive exercises and magical stories of Kai-lan and her animal friends. Chinese words are introduced as well as life lessons, such as anger management, patience, sharing and being a good group member.
One of the best direct teaching tools.
Teaches:
Red envelope tradition
Zodiac animals
Family celebration customs
Streaming: Roku
American Born Chinese (Select Scenes)
Jin Wang, an average teenager, juggles his high school social life with his home life; when he
meets a new student on the first day of the school year, even more worlds collide as Jin is
unwittingly entangled in a battle of Chinese mythological gods.
Upper grades only.
Use for:
Identity
Cultural storytelling
Mythology connections
Streaming: Disney+
Lunar New Year in Games
This is where engagement skyrockets because students often recognize these instantly.
Overwatch (Lunar New Year Event Skins)
Uses:
Zodiac animal themed skins
Lunar festival map decorations
Classroom tie-in:
Design your own zodiac character using traits and symbolism.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Features:
Lunar New Year items
Zodiac figurines
Lucky money envelopes
Math Connection:
Budgeting seasonal items.
League of Legends Lunar Revel Event
Includes:
Zodiac inspired character skins
Festival storytelling event
ELA Connection:
Character trait symbolism tied to zodiac animals.
Genshin Impact (Lantern Rite Festival)
Inspired by real Lunar New Year traditions.
Use for:
Festival symbolism
Cultural storytelling
World building comparisons
Pokémon (Zodiac Comparisons)
Not official zodiac, but amazing for classification and symbolism lessons.
Example Activity:
If Pokémon followed zodiac rules, which Pokémon would represent each year?
Classroom Discussion Points
Why do cultures use animals to represent personality traits?
Why are celebrations important across cultures?
How does media sometimes change traditions?
What is the difference between appreciation and stereotype?
Ready-to-Use Mini Activities
Activity: Pop Culture Zodiac Match
Students:
Match characters from media to zodiac traits.
Activity: Tradition vs Media Chart
Students compare:
Real tradition | Movie version | Why it changed
Activity: Design a Lunar New Year Game Event
Students design:
Zodiac character
Festival setting
Rewards and items
(Hello writing + math + art integration.)
Cultural Respect Reminder
Teach:
✔ Traditions have meaning
✔ Cultures are not costumes
✔ Learning = respect + curiosity
Avoid:
✘ Treating Lunar New Year as only decorations or food
✘ Oversimplifying traditions
Teachertainment Final Thought
The best learning happens when students see themselves and the world in what
they study.
Lunar New Year offers:
History
Family stories
Global perspectives
Symbolism
Math
Language
Media literacy
And when you add pop culture thoughtfully, you do not water down learning.
You give it a bigger stage.
