At Cascades Kindergarten we ushered in the year of Dragon by sharing many exciting experiences of how Asian families celebrate this important festival.

One of the highlights involved our tamariki making food that holds significant meaning for them. With whanau involvement our tamariki made dumplings, spring rolls and New Year cake.

On the eve of the Lunar New Year, we invited our whanau to join us for morning tea. This was a spread of Chinese goodies. Many of the foods enjoyed by families during the Lunar New Year hold special significance. On this occasion, dumplings symbolised gold nuggets, spring rolls symbolised good year head. We also prepared lucky red packets for our whānau to participate by giving these packets to their children.

Simultaneously, our children had been practising the Lion Dance together with traditional instruments, which they found fascinating. We also invited members of the Auckland East Chinese Society to perform a few dances and songs for our tamariki. This performance was part of our celebration of the Lunar New Year.

This year, we learned about the Chinese zodiac and identified our own one. We also explored traditional Chinese paper cutting, Calligraphy, Chinese painting and fan-making.

Chinese paper cutting:

Our little artists carefully cut some shapes or lines on vibrant red paper. As they snipped away, they not only enhanced their fine motor skills but also learned about the significance of the colour red in Chinese culture, symbolizing good luck and prosperity.

Calligraphy :

We dipped our brushes into special ink and explored the graceful strokes of Chinese calligraphy. We learned what the words they painted meant. This activity introduced them to a new form of expression.

Chinese Painting :

The traditional Chinese cherry blossom painting was placed beside the table to inspire children to make their mark. Tamariki had experienced different ways of painting techniques.

Fan-making:

What a good time to make fans in this hot weather! Fan-making was also inspired by traditional Chinese fans. Tamariki learned how to fold and turn the paper and then put some decorations on it. The “fold and turn” pattern, repeating the arrangement, was slightly challenging for some of the tamariki. Patterns are one of the foundations of numeracy skills. It helps children focus on and later understand a range of mathematical structures and relationships.

Learning Outcomes:

Through our Lunar New Year adventure, tamariki/children developed fine motor skills through paper cutting and brushwork, expanded their cultural awareness by exploring Chinese traditions, and enhanced their creativity through various art forms. The hands-on experiences with lion dance and drumming promoted coordination and teamwork, fostering a sense of unity and shared joy.

As we enjoyed our Lunar New Year journey, the tamariki/children carried with them not only beautiful creations but also an understanding and appreciation for the diversity of our world.