[NEWS] Cross Cultural Learning Takes to the Skies

Year 6 teachers recently took advantage of the beautiful Spring weather to create an engaging hands-on lesson embracing a beloved Chinese tradition: kite making. Through this lesson, students learned not just how to make kites but also the uses kites have had throughout Chinese history.

High-Flying History

Mr Bao explained that the first kites were made 2,300 years ago and have had a myriad of applications. Before the Tang Dynasty, kites were used in the military, issuing orders to far off allied troops and indicating the location of the enemy. 

By the Song Dynasty, kite flying had evolved into a cultural activity and became linked to the Chinese Tomb-Sweeping festival as a way of exorcising bad luck and promoting good fortune. This is a tradition that is still practised today.

Creative Kite Crafting

Armed with knowledge of the cultural significance of traditional Chinese kites, students set about creating their very own. At YCIS Beijing, Chinese topic and project classes like this one are taught completely in Chinese, giving students the opportunity to take their language skills and put them to practical use. 

Using splintered bamboo and light rice paper, students were taught how to 扎(zhā), or tie, the frame together, 糊(hú), or glue, the paper to the frame, then to 绘 (huì), or paint, the paper with their own designs. The kites were then hung out to dry, with the students eagerly waiting for the lesson to continue another day.

Taking Flight

The highlight of the workshop was taking to the beautiful nearby Honglingjin Park where the students could enjoy the fruits of their labour. Against the backdrop of a magnificent blue sky, students sent their kites soaring. 

While some tried running as fast as they could in hopes that the force would allow their kites to take flight, others found that a softer approach, allowing the kites to use thermals created by the sun hitting the ground, was the easiest way to get their kites aloft.

The Best of Hands-on Learning

Students were able to put the language skills learnt through YCIS Beijing's bilingual co-teaching model to use within a practical lesson, not only giving them an enjoyable time in the park but also deepening their understanding of Chinese history and culture. Unforgettable lessons like this one are the standard set by our unique academic experience and outstanding educators.

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