Chinese New Year Packs bring culture into the primary classroom
Perfect for use in MFL, PSHE, Citizenship, R.E., Geography, History and Literacy
Primary schools that are keen to tick the ‘culture’ box for Ofsted can bring the vibrant festivities of the Chinese New Year into the classroom with a new resource pack from Dragons in Europe. Scheduled to start on Friday 31st January 2014, Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Festival celebrates the start of new life and the season of ploughing and sowing.
Perfect for use in MFL, PSHE, Citizenship, R.E., Geography, History and Literacy (tales from around the world), the Chinese New Year Pack from Dragons in Europe includes activity resources for every pupil in the class - 35 red envelopes1, 35 large Chinese New Year stickers, 35 Chinese character sheets, 35 mini lanterns, 35 Chinese New Year badges, 35 chopsticks, 35 Chinese knots, 35 Zodiac sheets and 35 ‘My first Chinese words’ language sheets. These items are typically given to students to take home. Also included is support material for teachers including a DVD guide to Mandarin and the culture (in English), a large New Year lantern for the classroom and free access to www.primaryschoolchinese.com
Commenting on the resource pack, Barry Read, Head Teacher, RJ Mitchell Primary School, Havering, said, “With China now one of the world’s most buoyant growing economies, buying up big businesses on a global scale, a large number of independent schools and a growing number of state primary schools such as mine are introducing Mandarin in a drive to equip the next generation of workers with the skills to compete in a global economy. Statistically, almost 25% of the world’s population now speak Chinese which means that the ability to speak the language will be one of the most important business skills of the 21st century. This pack provides primary schools with a fun and engaging way to introduce the Mandarin language and Chinese culture into the classroom.”
There is also an exciting range of textbooks called ‘Primary School Chinese’, which come free with access to a fabulous e-portal called www.primaryschoolchinese.com as well as Kung Fu Kingdom® a games-based online portal designed to test and improve each user’s Chinese as they compete to gain a series of different coloured belts and get to the top of the ladder. Pupils can complete their homework online and play ‘Character Chaos’, ‘Testy Tones’, and ‘Stroke of Genius’. The more points they get, the more belts they win. If they collect all the belts, they become a ‘King Fu’ (for boys) or a ‘Queen Fu’ (for girls).
Dragons in Europe will also be running workshops throughout the London area for schools wishing to celebrate in style and they will also be manning a stall in Trafalgar Square http://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/event/4733685-chinese-new-year-in-london. All are welcome.
Chinese New Year packs are priced at just £49.99 plus vat + £10 postage. Further information can be obtained from Dragons in Europe, Earlsfield Business Centre, 9 Lydden Road, Earlsfield, SW18 4LT www.dragonsineurope.com T: 020 7228 8501
1. Red envelopes - given out by the older generation to kids at birthdays and at festivals as a symbol of friendship and good luck. They normally contain money – never 4 (which is a bad number in Chinese) and normally 8 (a top number in Chinese).
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