Objectives
- Introduce children to the traditional Chinese New Year
- Introduce children to the lion dance performance during the Festival
- To let children experience the festive atmosphere of the Festival
- Introduce children to traditional Chinese snacks
Brief Discriptions
The day’s activities included a “Lion Dance Workshop,” “Spring Hike: Following the Stone Trails,” and “Leaping Through the Dragon Gate: Celebrating Abundance.” These activities were designed to foster the children’s understanding of and interest in the Chinese New Year. The meal also featured special Chinese New Year dishes—dumplings and Chinese tea.
During the “Lion Dance Workshop,” the children first listened to the performers explain the origins of lion dancing, its classifications (such as Southern and Northern lions), and the eye-dotting ceremony. Through this, they learned about the traditional Chinese New Year festival and the customs of dragon and lion dancing, and then split into groups to experience the fun of performing these dances. Under the performers’ guidance, the children worked together to move the lion’s head and operate the mechanism inside to make it blink. The children were thrilled, and some even imitated the dragon and lion dance moves they had seen on TV, fully immersing themselves in their roles.
During the “Stone Trail Spring Walk: Step by Step to Success” activity, the teachers first briefly explained the rules of the game (stepping across the “river” one brick at a time using
either one or both feet) and its auspicious meaning of “rising step by step,” helping the children understand that the activity was not just a game but also carried a message of blessing. Upon reaching the finish line, after several attempts, some children took the initiative to exchange the congratulatory phrase “step by step to greater heights” with their peers and teachers. The atmosphere was joyful, and the children were able to appreciate the significance of mutual blessings.
During the “Fish Leaping Through the Dragon Gate to Celebrate Abundance” activity, the teacher asked the children to find designated fish in the inflatable pool and place them in a fish basket, symbolizing “abundance year after year.”
Finally, during snack time, the children enjoyed dumplings and Chinese tea together, learning about the characteristics and symbolism of traditional Chinese snacks—for example, dumplings symbolize family reunion and good fortune. Some children mentioned that they also eat dumplings at home during the Chinese New Year and were eager to try Chinese tea, connecting their daily experiences to the culinary culture of the festival.
School-based Learning Activity of Chinese Culture Display Form
