Both independent reading assignments and read-alouds allow teachers to introduce students to multicultural New Year's traditions. A literature selection such as "Happy New Year, Julie" by Megan McDonald sparks discussion of the symbolism of change and fresh starts in new year celebrations. Other choices for Chinese New Year include, "The Year of the Dog" or "The Year of the Rat" by Grace Lin, or "The Star Maker" by Laurence Yep. Explore the Jewish new year with "Gershon's Monster" by Eric A. Kimmel. The Muslim new year, Al-Hijra, marks Muhammad's move from Mecca to Medina and the beginning of Islam so stories such as "Muhammad" by Demi help students understand the history behind the holiday. Each student can write an account of the changes he has experienced during a particular year or a time when he had to make a new beginning because of a move, family birth or death, divorce or other life-altering experience.
Poets use visual and emotional analogies to express thoughts and feelings on the importance of the approaching new year. By sixth grade, children have generally developed the ability to analyze the symbolic language of poetry, draw out the author's meaning and relate it to their own lives. New Year's poetry choices include Thomas Hardy's "New Year's Eve," Sylvia Plath's "New Year on Dartmoor," "The Death of the Old Year" by Alfred Lord Tennyson or "Auld Lang Syne" by Robert Burns. After reading and discussing several poems, ask students to think of what the new year means to them and identify metaphors and analogies that can stand for these things. Have each student write a new year poem expressing her own thoughts, feelings and traditions relating to the holiday.
Food, holidays and culture seem to go together like pancakes, eggs and sausage. Many holiday traditions center around food and food preparation as a method of drawing family and friends together for a time of bonding. Every dish has a recipe, whether it resides in Grandma's head or a recipe file or cookbook. Read stories about New Year's in different countries and cultures and take note of the traditional foods served in the various celebrations. Look up recipes for these dishes and plan a multicultural New Year's feast. Have the children read the recipes and follow the instructions to prepare several dishes from around the world. Ask each student to give a short speech about what he brought, how it is used or served in the country of origin and what it symbolizes.
Setting personal goals or making New Year's resolutions about changes a person wants to make in her life for the new year are a part of the self-assessment many people go through at this time of year. Read aloud a story about setting goals or having dreams such as "Miss Rumphius" by Barbara Cooney. Ask students to consider what they could do to make the world a better place and what steps they need to take to make it happen. Have each student write, draw or paint a picture of the effect she can have on the world by pursuing that dream. Students can also make a list of two or three goals at the beginning of the school year and place them in a class time capsule. Open it on the last day of school to see how the students have done at achieving their goals. Discuss any obstacles they faced and what they can do if they have not yet achieved their goals.