Martin Avenue Lunar New Year Lesson Has a Personal Touch
Paxton Siu got to teach 45 classmates about his heritage, as he gave a thorough presentation on Lunar New Year at Martin Avenue Elementary School.
On Feb. 10, a week before the holiday is celebrated this year, students from Elizabeth Cleary’s and Lauren Fasano’s classes came together for an informative lesson filled with personal accounts. Paxton created a digital presentation using Canva highlighting the origins and traditions of Lunar New Year, and the countries where it is primarily celebrated. He shared how he and his family mark the holiday, such as the food they eat and gifts that are given.
Paxton talked about the Lunar New Year zodiac, a 12-year cycle in which each year is represented by a different animal. 2026 is the year of the horse.
Ms. Cleary, Paxton’s teacher, commended him on his initiative. She said the idea to educate his classmates about Lunar New Year history and customs was his, and he put a lot of work into the presentation. The other fifth graders were engaged throughout, and asked many insightful questions.