A Magical Red Envelope - Chinese New Year Writing Prompt

Prepare your students for a journey into the magical world of Chinese New Year traditions—complete with a sprinkle of humor! This resource gets students thinking about the age-old tradition of the red envelope, but with a fun twist: they get to decide what really should be inside. Spoiler alert: It’s not just money (but you’re free to imagine the impossible)! The two-part activity encourages students to first write about the most ridiculous, fantastic, or wildly imaginative thing they’d want to find in a magical red envelope. Then, they’ll take their creativity to the next level by drawing it. Because, why just write about it when you can draw a giant talking cat or a never-ending supply of ice cream?

Ways to Use:

• Cultural Curiosity: Dive into the fun facts of Chinese New Year with a side of humor.

• Creative Writing: Let students write about what’s really important in life (hello, magic powers and endless pizza).

• Art Attack: They’ll get to sketch out the impossible—think bigger, funnier, and more colorful than ever.

• Classroom Decor: Use those hilarious drawings for an epic Chinese New Year bulletin board.

Advantages:

• Boosts creativity with a lot of laughs.

• Makes cultural lessons feel fresh, fun, and totally relatable.

• Students flex both writing and drawing muscles.

• Inspires totally out-of-the-box thinking (who needs reality, anyway?).

• Perfect for classroom celebrations, holiday activities, or the "I just need a fun break" moment.