Blue Sky Days Blog: Summer Homeschooling

Chayton is wearing a Tang Suit, and Anna is wearing a Hantu!

CHINA WEEK -

Monday:

Media: Intro to Chinese Culture -"Sagwa: the Chinese Siamese Cat - How Sagwa Got Her Colors"
Roundtable Discussion: What did you learn?
History/Culture: Facts about China -

One of the 4 ancient civilizations - over 5,000 years old vs. United States at 245 years old
Largest population of one country at 1.4 billion vs. United States at 328.2 million
Communist country, meaning the government is a one-party system and controls the military, police, media, and internet. To compare, in the United States, we operate under a two-party system and have checks and balances to ensure that the government does not gain too much power over the people. We also have a Constitution and Bill of Rights, which protect our civil rights such as: freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
Called the "factory of the world," China invented kites and fireworks, and produces most of the world's toys; second largest economy in the world, only behind United States

Field Trip: Eat lunch at a Chinese restaurant and/or stop by the local Chinese market to pick up dumpling/wonton wrappers and Chinese candy

Mochi Ice Cream

Tuesday:

Language: Learn how to speak Mandarin -

"Nee how!" "Hello."
"Zhai-jian" "Goodbye."
"Shieh-shieh" "Thank you."
"Boo kuh-chi" "You're welcome."
"Zhow" "Good morning."
"One-un" "Goodnight."
"Wuh jeow..." "My name is..."
"Sheh" "Yes."
"Bu-sheh" "No."

Reading/Writing: Learn Chinese Calligraphy - Hanzi ("han-dzuh"), meaning Han characters

What you'll need: Black paint, paint brush, and template for characters

Music: Chinese Opera
Art: Origami - you can order Origami paper from Amazon
Media: Watch Kung Fu Panda and discuss Kung Fu

Learning to associate Han characters with English words

Frog origami. They even hop!

Wednesday:

History/Culture: Chinese Food -

Eat wonton soup for breakfast if you're brave enough (you can even fill the wonton wrappers with cream cheese!)
Everything has rice with it
Try tofu
Chopsticks are 5,000 years old and were created for cooking, not eating

History/Culture: Important symbols of China -

Great Wall (mortar for stones was sticky rice)
Terracotta Army (took 37 years to build and made out of 8,000 clay soldiers)
Forbidden City (palace with 9,000 rooms)
Giant Panda

Media: Watch Mulan or Raya and the Last Dragon

Chopsticks Lesson

Chinese Calligraphy artwork

Thursday:

History/Culture: Festivals -

Spring: Chinese Lunar New Year - New Year's Festivities in China, last day is the Lantern Festival
Summer: Dragon Boat Festival

History/Culture: Importance to Chinese Culture -

Red - considered the luckiest color, means good luck and prosperity, many women's wedding dresses are red
Cherry Blossoms - symbol of female power, gifted out of love as a symbol of life
Dragons - During the early years after human's first creation, dragons lived alongside mankind and provided protection and guidance. The first dynasty was said to have dragon blood coursing through their veins. The Chinese say they are descendants of dragons. They are a symbol of power, wisdom, strength, and good luck for those who are worthy of it - "Sagwa: the Chinese Siamese Cat - Four Dragons"

Literature/Reading: Read Ruby's Chinese New Year - we grabbed a copy from the library
Art: Make a dragon puppet, Chinese rattle drum, and lanterns
History/Culture: Have Festival Dinner - dumplings, noodles/lo mein or chow mein (they should not be cut to symbolize long life), shrimp, spring rolls (with duck sauce), mandarin oranges, and rice cakes

String the lanterns from the ceiling, and let the kids throw a Lunar New Year parade with their dragons and drums before sitting down to eat

Our bearded dragon checking out our Chinese dragon

We made our rattle drums with paper plates, rice inside, and super glue to secure (with staples to add extra stabilization). We then picked a Chinese New Year character phrase to draw on the front.

We used twine to string the lanterns across the ceiling. There are also craft ideas at the back of the Ruby's Chinese New Year book.

Friday:

History/Culture: Chinese Religions and Teachings -

Buddhism - life, death, and reincarnation; nirvana - highest peace; karma (life force that carries into the next life); live morally without want and you will end your suffering; do not kill, steal, lie; meditate
Taosim - live in peace and your soul will live forever, ying and yang (balance, night and day, good and evil); live selflessly, do good and good will happen to you
Confucianism - kindness, respect for others, and the importance of family above all else

P.E.: Tai Chi - practiced for defense training, health benefits, and meditation
History/Culture: Tea Culture - attention to environment, atmosphere, music, interpersonal relationships, cultivate morality and mind, savor life - joy of spirt