Chinese New Year Idea

I found the cutest book on Amazon a couple weeks ago, Paper Lanterns.  I took a chance and ordered it.  My class enjoyed the book a lot.  The story was about a little boy who studies under the master to learn how to make paper lanterns.  The book was a great tool for discussing author's purpose, setting, characters and events. 

After we read the book we made Chinese lanterns in a variety of colors.  We sponge painted flowers and outlined them with black sharpies.  Next they wrote some Chinese characters on the border.  The project was a lot of fun. The bright lanterns are a joy to look each day.