Nord Anglia Education
WRITTEN BY
Nord Anglia
28 September, 2023

Mid-Autumn Festival - Celebrating Learning, Tradition and Unity

Mid-Autumn Festival - Celebrating Learning, Tradition and Unity - Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important traditional festivals in Chinese culture.

This festival holds great importance for us at BSG as we promote cultural understanding and appreciation among our diverse student body. By learning about the customs and traditions associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival, our students gain insights into the rich Chinese heritage and foster a sense of unity within our multicultural community.

During the week leading up to the festival, Chinese department teachers skillfully linked out curriculum and learning objectives with traditional activities, focusing on language development through activity:

 

In Early Years, Toddler, Nursery focused on developing their literacy, learning the origins of Mid-Autumn Festival by telling the story of Houyi and singing the song "The Moon".

 

Mid-Autumn Festival - Celebrating Learning, Tradition and Unity - Mid-Autumn Festival

 

Year 1-4 Chinese Additional Language students combined language development with art and craft, making different kinds of lanterns and focusing on key vocabulary associated with them.

Year 3 and 4 Chinese First Language students explored key elements of ancient Chinese poetry and then represented each one in drawing form.

Year 5 and 6 students also examined poetry as they celebrated the spirit of Mid-Autumn Festival by learning "Ming Yue Ji Shi You", the lyrics of which were written by the famous poet Sushi.

 

Mid-Autumn Festival - Celebrating Learning, Tradition and Unity - Mid-Autumn Festival

 

Year 7 students explored the art of making mooncakes, a traditional practice during the Mid-Autumn Festival. They learned about the ingredients, methods, and cultural significance of mooncakes. At the same time, they applied their mathematics learning of weighing and measuring. Under the guidance of experienced chefs, they created their own delicious mooncake masterpieces.

 

Year 8 and 9 students explored the beauty of Chinese lanterns and fans by participating in visual design workshops in Chinese classes. They learned to classify different types of lanterns, their significance, and the techniques used in lantern making and learned about the symbolism behind traditional fan designs and created unique artworks reflecting Chinese culture and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

 

Mid-Autumn Festival - Celebrating Learning, Tradition and Unity - Mid-Autumn Festival

 

On the morning of Thursday 28th September, students across BSG, including Early Years and Olympic Park celebrated the festival with assemblies, where they also explored the significance of mid-autumn, performed traditional songs and dances and had the opportunity to wear traditional clothes to school.

 

Through these wonderful activities, BSG ignited curiosity, fostered appreciation for Chinese culture, made connections with our curriculum and brought together our students from various backgrounds in the spirit of unity and camaraderie.

 

Wishing you a joyful and fulfilling Mid-Autumn Festival!