DIY Summer Camp Week 3: Theater and Design

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Every week in July, we’ll bring the parents of Beijing their very own summer camp curriculum. We’re keeping it truly simple, uncomplicated, and as inexpensive as possible so choose activities a la carte or follow the entire week’s agenda – whatever helps!

This week our theme is Theatre and Design. I love theatre! I always have because my childhood was filled with it. From watching Julie Andrews belt out "The Hills Are Alive" on TV to physically being held in my chair by my mother during a Broadway performance of Cats because she was afraid I would rush the stage and sing along. I have been to performances in almost every country I've had the privilege of visiting and I always walk away with a deeper and more profound view of the culture and history. So this week I wanted to give our DIY Campers a road map to diving into China’s history through its unique theatrical heritage. Enjoy!

Monday: Watch and Learn

Start sparking their imaginations with either a live performance or an online video of a traditional Chinese program. In Beijing, I recommend the Peking Opera Highlights show because it features several different types of performances including kung fu, acrobatics, and traditional Peking Opera. Translations are provided during the performance and the costumes are beautiful. Some venues offer the option to let you watch the performers put on their elaborate makeup which has a lot of tradition behind it. If that’s not your style, you can also catch the acrobatic show or some traditional dances. This link might prove helpful in your search for events in the capital.

If it's more convenient, you can also stream online. The Chengdu face-changing show is amazing and a quick search on YouTube will yield lots of results. Talk to the kids about what they liked or didn’t like. Was there anything they want to learn more about?

Tuesday: National Museum of China

A lot of theatrical content is based on history. So, spend some time at the National Museum of China. The purpose of this trip is not to be stuffy or precise. It's about getting inspired. I strongly encourage you to let the children guide this experience. What are they drawn to naturally? If they are loving the ancient armor, or are transfixed by the jade exhibit, or the boats in the maritime section are just the coolest thing they've ever seen then let them explore that. You don’t need to see everything. This is a quality, not quantity moment.

Invite older children to bring a journal or sketchbook where they can write down things they're interested in or have questions about. Younger children should be encouraged to talk freely about what they see, and you can help them by taking notes as you go.

Wednesday: Research and Write

Pick one or two things that the kids were really interested in at the museum and help them do a little research about the topic or item. Based on what you find out, have them write a short script with you. It doesn’t need to be fancy, even just a basic outline with no set dialogue is fine. But you want a clear beginning, middle, and end to the narrative. 

It's also fine if it is not historically accurate. Maybe the white snake (a real Chinese folk character you learned about in your research) has to fight off alien robots who are trying to steal her jade hair comb to power their spaceship. It’s okay, as long as it is a story they love and are proud of! 

Thursday: Design and Build

Based on the story they wrote yesterday, have the kids design costumes and props they'll need to act it out. Use any household items and basic art supplies to get creative. If they are shy about acting try using paper bag puppets. Many children are happy to perform if they can’t see the audience and the audience can’t see them. Then practice acting out your story. This is a great way to work on sequencing and language development.

Friday: Let's Put On a Play!

Let them set up a room in the house and perform the play for friends, neighbors, or their stuffed toys. Remember, this is not about the final product. No one is going to win a Tony award here. It’s about the process and having a great time learning and creating.

We would love to see what your child came up with. Join our WeChat Group and send pictures or videos via the QR code below!

Images: Pexels

KEEP READING

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