Chinese New Year 17 February 2026

Here is this week's CST activities page - Chinese New Year, which this year is Year Of The Horse.

Begin by asking members if they have been to China or elsewhere in the far east?

What did they think of the people, the places, the culture, the language and the food?

If members have not visited the far east, who would like to?

There is a video version of this activity here ...

& if you like and use my work you can buy me a coffee here ...

Round 1. Idioms

Discuss these sayings and their meanings with members. Add any more idioms that members can think of.

What is the motto of the Three Wise Monkeys?

Answer: See no evil; Hear no evil; Speak no evil

Round 2. Facts About China

Discuss these facts with members. Which facts were not previously known or are surprising?

Who is this Tibetan Buddhist leader?

Answer: Dalia Lama

Round 3. Chinese New Year

Ask members what might be seen or happen at Chinese New Year?

Answers:

What are the other animals of the Chinese Zodiac?

Answers:

Here is a great video about Chinese New Year ...

Round 4. Places

Looking at the photos, ask members the following questions ...

(You can print off a screenshot or if you click on the first photo a slideshow will open.)

Here are the questions to go with these photos:

What is the capital city of China?

What is the capital city of Japan?

Where is Kowloon Bay & name the boat?

What is the capital of Thailand?

What is the capital of Malaysia?

Name this island state & the mythical creature pictured?

Name the Japanese volcano mountain & the cherry blossom flowers?

Name the tallest mountain in the Himalayas and the world & who conquered it in 1953?

Name this snow monster (both names)?

Answers:

Songs are intersperesed throughout the session to break it up and make it more multisensory. Here is the first ...

'Slow Boat To China', Ella Fitzgerald - https://youtu.be/hBEOYa3eymc?si=5hS8v7HmShDHUuz5

Here are the questions to go with these photos:

Name this wall & how long is it (nearest guess)?

Name these statues & how many were discovered (nearest guess)?

Name this statue & how long is it (nearest guess)?

Which two Japanese cities were destroyed by the A-bombs dropped by the 'Enola Gay' in 1945?

Where is this event taking place & what did it signify?

Name this square?

What date did the deadly tsunami hit much of the far east?

Name this train & how fast can it travel?

Answers:

* The Bullet Train can actually reach 350mph

'On A Little Street In Singapore', The Manhattan Transfer - https://youtu.be/NaO93JXJook?si=1_hrcggl3qQcT_7B

Round 5. Culture

Ask members to answer the questions below ...

Here are the questions to go with these photos ...

Name the ceremony taking place here, the ladies conducting it & the dressing they are wearing?

Name the art of keeping miniature trees?

Name the art of making beautiful 3D shapes from paper?

Name the art of writing beautifully with ink and brushes? (Just to note members can see how their names look by using this translator - https://laoshi.io/name/ )

Name this game & the physical activity taking place behind the players?

Why do Japanese people bow to each other?

Name this person-drawn vehicle?

Name this sport and how does the wrestler win?

Name the fighters in this game of 'Assassin's Creed'?

Name some Japanese car manufacturers?

'Nine Million Bicycles', Katie Melua - https://youtu.be/rrPUJsZQSkw?si=u61eBQZ-bP9vmrSH

Round 6. Animals

Ask members to answer the questions below ...

Here are the questions to go with these photos ...

Name this bear & what does it eat exclusively?

Name this critically endangered big cat?

Name this animal & are its ears bigger or smaller than its African counterpart?

Name this animal & the rice fields in which it works?

Name these fish & this type of garden?

Name this bear? (There is a great video about them here - https://youtu.be/riVtoL4hOmY?si=hrmKxbJwoIly5zJw )

Name this monkey (its name relates to its appearance)?

Name this monkey, which keeps warm in the snow fields by resting in hot springs?

Name this insect?

Name this bird?

Name this cat and dog?

Name these mythical creatures?

'Puff The Magic Dragon', Peter, Paul & Mary - https://youtu.be/Y7lmAc3LKWM?si=QL42NsOCSa0vQ6zV

Round 7. Food

Ask members to answer the questions below ...

Here are the questions to go with these photos ...

Name the TV chef, the implements he is cooking with & the sauce he is using?

Name some vegetables used in Chinese cooking?

Name the five spices in 'Chinese Five Spice'?

Name some Chinese starters?

Name some Chinese main courses?

Name some Chinese sauces?

Name this raw Japanese fish dish & the seaweed it is wrapped in?

Name the fruit, tea flavour & biscuit?

What is the proper name for Japanese rice wine?

'Chopsticks', Liberace - https://youtu.be/jruN-ZTIdak?si=r-HIs8oVJIfH7GIE

Round 8. TV & Movies

Ask members to ask the questions linked to the photos below ...

You could play theme songs and movie clips to help members with their guesses ...

Here are the questions to go with these photos ...

Name the actors & this one of their 'Road To ..' movies?

Name this monster & the country in which the story was set?

Name the movie & the actors (it is worth noting Sian is now called Thailand)?

Name the movie, the detective & his Chinese friend?

Name the TV show & the character?

Name the TV show & the character on the left?

Name the TV show & what do the initials stand for?

Name the TV show & was it set in China or Japan?

Name the TV show & was it set in China or Japan?

Name the movie, the actor & the music?

Name the movie & the teacher?

Name the movie & the actor?

Name the movie, the James Bond actor & the animal?

Round 9. Music

For this round play clips and ask members to answer the questions below ...

Here are the questions to go with these photos ...

Name the operetta & composers? https://youtu.be/mXWkIZUPmDY?si=raAFMasNceKxKnGn

Name the opera & composer? https://youtu.be/CTT5FlTvz4A?si=V8UQIFR7OBJIe5hf

Name the single & artist? https://youtu.be/Bt4D8oA3mxU?si=OkcuuWJqwayvLnBH

Name the single & artist? https://youtu.be/_YC3sTbAPcU?si=45gli6ITEIe6onjK

Name the single & artist? https://youtu.be/nGy9uomagO4?si=7gIujfHa7wqa1c5H

Name the musical & composers/writer? https://youtu.be/rgc_LRjlbTU?si=XHg60hEl4SjXEGYN

Name the single & group (plus lead singer)? https://youtu.be/T4sV3lqzKqQ?si=47nKzFF7Su8kjPDl

Name the musical (noting Saigon is now called Ho Chi Minh City)? https://youtu.be/PY5afLuAKNc?si=nhsXvnDG0CAUNox1

There is an extra song here ...

https://youtu.be/Y-l9GQJRl9Y?si=Sxc7YkJYtglptM0L