Guided Reading Level H - Celebrating a New Year

Book Snapshot
• Title: Celebrating a New Year
• Genre: Nonfiction (informational)
• Subject: Social Studies / Reading
• Primary Topic: New Year traditions in different places
• Estimated Guided Reading Level (A–Z): H

What This Book Teaches Best
• Explains that the New Year begins on January 1st and starts a brand-new calendar.
• Describes common New Year celebrations at midnight, including fireworks and waiting for the clock to strike twelve.
• Shares traditions in different places (Spain eating twelve grapes; Japan wearing a kimono and visiting a shrine).
• Introduces Lunar New Year as a celebration in many Asian cultures and explains what red lanterns symbolize.
• Defines a New Year’s resolution as a goal or promise to improve something.

Learning Goals
• Students will identify when the New Year begins and what it marks, using details from the text.
• Students will describe what the book says happens at midnight on New Year’s.
• Students will explain one New Year tradition from Spain or Japan described in the book.
• Students will describe what the book says red lanterns symbolize during Lunar New Year.
• Students will explain what a New Year’s resolution is and give one example from the text.

Key Vocabulary From the Text
• calendar — a chart that shows days, weeks, and months.
• midnight — the very middle of the night (12:00).
• tradition — something people do again for a special reason.
• symbolize — to stand for or mean something.
• resolution — a goal or promise to do better.

Discussion Prompts
• Pre-reading question: What are some ways you think people celebrate the New Year?

• Comprehension questions:
What does January 1st mark, according to the book?
Why do some people in Spain eat twelve grapes at midnight?
What is a New Year’s resolution?

Printing Tips

1. Best Printing Method (Recommended)
   “Booklet” Printing (Best if Available)
   If your printer or PDF viewer supports Booklet Printing, use this.
   Settings to use:
   • Print mode: Booklet
   • Paper size: Letter or A4 (either works)
   • Orientation: Landscape
   • Print on both sides: Yes
   • Flip on: Short edge
   • Scaling: Fit to printable area
   • Booklet subset:
   o First test: Front sides only
   o Then: Back sides only
   This will automatically:
   • Pair pages correctly
   • Put the cover on the outside
   • Align everything for folding
   After printing, fold in half and staple along the spine.

2. If “Booklet” Printing Is NOT Available
   You can still print this correctly with manual duplex printing.
   Step-by-step:

3. Open the PDF.

4. Choose Print.

5. Set:
   o Orientation: Landscape
   o Pages per sheet: 1
   o Print on both sides: Yes
   o Flip on: Short edge

6. Print all pages.
   Because each PDF page already contains two facing book pages, the result will still fold cleanly into a book.