Happy New Year!

As we enter 2012 with a bang, I thought it would be worth looking for some resources for kids when they come back to school about New Years. There is a lot about Chinese New Year, but not as much about Dec.31/Jan. 1 New Years. Since we are not usually in school, I haven't looked for resources about this before, but there is a first time for everything! Here are some of the ideas I came across. There is a World Clock to see what time if in in other parts of the world and other information at Apples4TheTeacher including New Year greetings from around the world, a reading list and short stories, and other activities. Enchanted Learning has some activities also including a printable booklet for younger students, acrostic worksheets, and This Year activities. There is always an activity waiting in writing resolutions too. This site has some examples for resolutions for kids of various ages as a starting point. 

Source

In addition to actual New Year activities, it can also be a time of reflection and using something like a circle plot diagram is a way to evaluate your year or use with books and other activities. You can also look at time passage with some activities like this one that shows different families over time that have lived in the same house and information about their lives. Or, just look back at how things might have been for their grandparents and create family trees.

Whatever you do, have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!