Program Overview 1. Public Programs 5. Resources 57. Educational Programs

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1 Educational Programs Contents Page Program Overview 1 Public Programs 5 Exhibit Activities 6 Chinese Zodiac Bookmarks 7 Make and Play Jianzi 10 Chinese Hand Drums 12 Chinese Paper Lanterns 14 Paper Cutting 16 Performances and Workshops 24 Suggested Programs 25 Large Scale Public Programs 29 Holiday and Festival Dates 30 Additional Activities Nianhua Block Prints 31 Dragon Boat Puppets 33 Sample Programs 35 Dragon Boat Festival Autumn Moon Festival Chinese New Year 2008 School Programs 40 Children s Life in China 41 Resources 57 Notes on Chinese Language and Pronunciation 58 Glossary 59 Books 64 Online Sources 69 Additional Resources 71

2 Program Overview Boston Children s Museum,

3 The programs that have been developed for the exhibit Children of Hangzhou: Connecting with China are defined in two broad categories: Public Programs for regular family visitors and School Programs for visiting school groups. Three levels of public programs include: floor kits led by museum educators and floor staff; performances and workshops, where visiting artists both from China and the local community are invited to share their expertise; and museum-wide festivals, which combine these two elements. Two school programs have been developed to give students a more in-depth experience in the exhibit. The first program Children s Life in China allows students to meet one of the children featured in the exhibit and compare and contrast his or her life with their own. The second program Arts of China explores brush painting and opera to give students an opportunity to experience traditional Chinese culture. Depending on the host museum s staffing and budget capacities/constraints, any number of these programs can be scheduled during the exhibit run. For reference, the full program calendar for Children of Hangzhou for the Boston exhibit run and the BCM School Programs brochure are included in the Educational Manual. The following is a brief summary of each type of program, and a list of what is included in this section of the manual. Public Programs 1. Exhibit Activities: Included in the Education Manual are copies of the instructions, templates, and background information for the following drop-in activties: Chinese Zodiac Bookmarks Make and Play Jianzi Chinese Shuttlecock Chinese Hand Drums Chinese Paper Lanterns Paper Cutting 2. Performances and Workshops: In order to enrich the cultural experience and bring an authentic taste of China to our visitors, a number of performances and workshops were scheduled in Boston throughout the exhibit run. Most of these programs were scheduled for minutes in a suitable museum space, either a stage or classroom type area. These suggested programs are meant to correspond to a theme/space within the exhibit. Ideally, these programs will be taught by Museum educators with content knowledge of China, or by local China specialists performance groups, language teachers, etc who are interested in sharing Chinese culture with museum visitors. Suggested activities include: Traditional Music Concert Martial Arts Demonstration Opera or Dance Performance Rice Dough Sculpture Workshop Calligraphy or Painting Workshop Boston Children s Museum,

4 3. Large Scale Public Programs: Large Scale Public Programs are museum-wide festivals that we suggest take place at least once during the exhibit run. These special events bring visibility to the Museum and allow for greater collaboration with the community and local China-related organizations. They are also opportunities for in-house collaboration among different departments within the museum so that the entire museum becomes invested in and involved with the Children of Hangzhou exhibit. For example, work with other museum educators to create connections between exhibits on a museum-wide basis. The Education Manual includes sample programs for three festivals: Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu jie 端午节 ) Mid-Autumn Moon Festival (Zhongqiu jie 中秋节 ) Chinese New Year Festival (Chun jie 春节 ) Boston Children s Museum,

5 School Programs The School Programs for Children of Hangzhou allow for in-depth (one-hour) focus on the lives of contemporary Chinese children at school, at home, and beyond. These programs utilize materials objects, photographs, tools that are otherwise not necessarily available in the exhibit. Sufficient training and preparation ahead of time is essential. Pre- and Post-Visit Information sent to classroom teachers who have made a reservation for a school program provide excellent suggestions for preparing the students before they come and following-up with their class after their museum visit. Included in the Education Manual are: Pre- and Post-Visit Information to be sent to classroom teachers in advance of their visit, and the program teaching instructions: In-exhibit program: Children s Life in China (Grade K-7) Come experience children s life in contemporary China. Through stories of real children, students learn aspects of life in China in depth and through comparison relate what they learn to their own lives in the United States. The program provides a general introduction and small group activity. This program begins with an introduction to Chinese spoken and written language. Students will learn to say a few words in Chinese. Next, using the maps in the exhibit, students will engage in a brief look at Chinese geography (as appropriate to grade level). Issues to be discussed will include: locating China on a world map; locating China in Asia; examining the diversity of land forms in China and discussing implications; comparing the size of China with other countries; looking at population density and distribution; and discussing the implications of density. Groups of students will then meet a particular Hangzhou youth, and learn a particular activity with him/her, which will be shared with the rest of the class at the end of the program. Boston Children s Museum,

6 Public Programs Boston Children s Museum,

7 Public Programs Exhibit Activities Each of the following activities relates to one of the five main areas within the Children of Hangzhou exhibit school, apartment, theatre, countryside, and pavilion. The drop-in activities can be used individually to help emphasize the life and interests of one of the four children, or can be used in combination for a Chinese cultural celebration or special event. Suggestions are also included for how these activities may be related to other museum exhibits, such as science, health and fitness, or the arts. Make and Play Jianzi Chinese Hand Drums Boston Children s Museum,

8 Chinese Zodiac Bookmarks Huang Dao Dai 黄道带 Exhibit Space: Apartment / Weicheng Weicheng s kitchen has a Chinese zodiac wheel. Learn more about Chinese astrology through this simple activity. Program Length/Audience: Activity can be set up for 1-2 hours. Visitors will need 5-10 minutes to complete. This activity is suitable for all ages. Activity Objectives: Introduce visitors to the Chinese zodiac. Whereas in Western astrology people identify their zodiac sign based on the month they were born, in China your zodiac sign is based on the year you were born. Using the zodiac wheel, help visitors find their zodiac sign, learn some of its characteristics, and make a bookmark to remind them of it. Materials needed: zodiac Wheel colored paper cut in strips 12 animal stamps gold, black, and/or red stamp pads yarn or string for a tassel (optional) hole punch (to add tassel) Procedures: General Introduction: Ask visitors what they know about the zodiac or astrology. Ask what their birth sign is in the Western zodiac. Do they know about the Chinese zodiac and how it is different? Tell them the story of how the Chinese zodiac came to be. (See the background information page for reference.) What s next? After telling the story, invite visitors to find their own sign on the zodiac wheel based on their birth year. Once they find their sign, tell them some of the personality traits associated with their animal. Invite them to choose a stamp that represents their sign and a piece of colored paper for the bookmark. Press the stamp into the ink pad and then press firmly on the paper to transfer the image. Using the hole punch make a hole at the top of your bookmark and add a tassel (optional). For older children, show them the Chinese character for their sign and invite them to practice writing it on their bookmark. Alternately, invite them to write their favorite personality trait to remind them of their sign. Keywords: zodiac cycle birth year Boston Children s Museum,

9 lunar calendar astrology Background Information: The Chinese Zodiac represents a cycle of 12 years. This cyclical concept of time differs from the Western linear concept of time. The Chinese Lunar Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and is still used for festive occasions such as Chinese New Year, which marks the beginning of the Chinese calendar and falls somewhere between late January and early February. Each year of the 12 year cycle is named after one of 12 animals. Each animal has a different personality and different characteristics. The animal is believed to be the main factor in each person's life that gives them their traits, successes, and happiness in their lifetime. The Chinese zodiac refers to a pure calendrical cycle; there are no equivalent constellations like those of the Western zodiac. In imperial times there were astrologers who watched the sky for heavenly omens that would predict the future of the state, but this was a quite different practice of divination from the popular present-day methods. Many popular stories tell about how the zodiac was created and how the order of the animals was established. The twelve animals in order are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. One popular variation of this Chinese folk tale indicates that a race was used to decide the order of the animals: The story of the Chinese Zodiac 1 A long time ago in China, the Jade Emperor invited all the animals in his kingdom to share in his New Year celebration. The emperor also wanted to choose one animal for each year of the twelve-year cycle. He decided to hold a race with the winners chosen for their intelligence as well as their physical skill. The elephant, known as being very fair and calm, was asked to be the judge. The contest began with all the animals in the kingdom competing. The cat and the rat were the worst swimmers in the animal kingdom, however they were both intelligent. They decided that the best and fastest way to cross the river was to hop on the back of the ox. The ox, being a naïve and good-natured animal, agreed to carry them across. However, overcome with a fierce competitiveness, the rat decided that in order to win, it must do something and promptly pushed the cat into the river. After the ox had crossed the river, the rat then jumped ahead and reached the shore first to claim first place in the competition. Following closely behind was the strong ox, who was named the 2 nd animal in the zodiac. After the ox, came the tiger, panting, while explaining to the Emperor just how difficult it was to cross the river with the heavy currents pushing it downstream all the time. But with powerful strength, it made to shore and was named the 3 rd animal in the cycle. Suddenly, from a distance came a thumping sound and the rabbit arrived. It explained how it crossed the river: by jumping from one stone to another in a nimble fashion. Halfway through, it almost lost the race but the rabbit was lucky enough to grab hold of a floating log that later washed him to shore. For that, it became the 4 th animal in the zodiac cycle. Coming in 5 th place was the dragon, flying and belching fire into the air. Of course, the Emperor was deeply curious as to why a strong and flying creature such as the dragon should 1 Zodiac story adapted from Story of the Chinese Zodiac, retold by Monica Chang, English translation by Rick Charette, Yuan-Liou Publishing Company, Boston Children s Museum,

10 fail to reach first. The mighty dragon explained that he had to stop and make rain to help all the people and creatures of the earth, and therefore he was held back a little. Then, on his way to the finish line, he saw a helpless rabbit clinging to a log so he did a good deed and gave a puff of breath so that the poor creature would land on the shore. The Emperor was very pleased with the actions of the dragon and added it into the zodiac cycle. As soon as he had done so, a galloping sound was heard, and the horse appeared. Hidden on the horse's hoof was the snake, whose sudden appearance gave the horse a fright, making it fall back and giving the snake 6 th spot while the horse took the 7 th. Not long after that, a little distance away, the ram, monkey and rooster came to the shore. These three creatures helped another to shore. The rooster spotted a raft and took the other two animals with it. Together, the ram and the monkey cleared the weeds, tugged and pulled and finally got the raft to the shore. Because of their combined efforts, the Emperor was very pleased and promptly named the ram the 8 th creature, the monkey 9 th, and the rooster 10 th. The 11 th animal is the dog. His explanation for being late although he was supposed to be the best swimmer was that he needed a good bath. The fresh water from the river was too big a temptation. For that, he almost didn't make it to finish line. Just as the Emperor was about to call it a day, an oink and squeal was heard from a little pig. The pig got hungry during the race, promptly stopped for a feast and then fell asleep. After the nap, the pig continued the race and was named the 12 th and last animal of the zodiac cycle. The cat finished too late (thirteenth) to win any place in the calendar, and vowed to be the enemy of the rat forevermore. The twelve signs: 鼠 Rat (shu): disciplined, charming, sociable 马 Horse (ma): cheerful, popular, quick-witted 牛 Ox (niu): dependable, patient, ambitious 羊 Sheep (yang): sincere, shy, understanding 虎 Tiger (hu): rebellious, powerful, generous 兔 Rabbit (tu): sensitive, elegant, artistic 龙 Dragon (long): self-assured, proud, fiery 蛇 Snake (she): wise, prudent, purposeful 猴 Monkey (hou): inquisitive, competitive, intellectual 鸡 Rooster (ji): neat, decisive, practical 狗 Dog (gou): honest, loyal, idealistic 猪 Pig (zhu): sturdy, trusting, sincere Alternative Suggestions: Relate the bookmark making activity to other museum-wide literacy programs. Teach visitors about cultural games and focus on five pieces (wuziqi) the board game featured in the apartment kitchen. Invite a local Go (weiqi) player to give a demonstration or workshop. Boston Children s Museum,

11 Make and Play Jianzi 毽子 Chinese Shuttlecock Exhibit Space: School / Gangzheng Watch Gangzheng s video. You ll notice that he loves sports including the ancient Chinese game of jianzi. Program Length/Audience: Activity can be set up for 1-2 hours. Visitors will need minutes to complete and play. This activity is best suited to children 3-4 years old and older. Activity Objectives: Jianzi is a traditional Asian shuttlecock game that originated in China over 2000 years ago during the Han dynasty. Single players or small groups try to keep the jianzi from touching the ground by using parts of their body but not their hands! to keep it in play. How long can you keep it going? Materials needed: tissue paper or newspaper (about 8 x 12 ) metal or plastic washers (or a coin) scissors rubber bands Procedures: General Introduction: Ask visitors if they have ever played hacky sack. Tell them that jianzi is an ancient Chinese variation on this game. Show them a traditional jianzi made of feathers. Invite them to make their own jianzi so that they can practice at home. What s next? Ask visitors to choose a piece of colored tissue paper. (Use several pieces of tissue if you want a multicolored jianzi.) Fold a piece of tissue paper in half. Cut the folded paper into strips stopping about 1-2 from the center fold. Be careful not to cut through the paper! Unfold the paper and place a washer at one end of the paper on the uncut portion in the center. Fold the paper tightly around the washer from one end to the other. (This will create a long thin strip of tissue paper. The cut edges will be on the sides and the washer will be securely wrapped in the center.) Fold the cut strips of paper up and wrap a rubber band tightly around the base. Open the cut tissue strips and play with your jianzi! Key Words: jianzi shuttlecock Boston Children s Museum,

12 feather ball hacky sack balance hand-eye coordination game exercise competition agility Background Information: In English, jianzi can be translated as shuttlecock or more literally as feather ball. This is the term for both the object as well as the name of the game. Traditional jianzi were made by attaching rooster feathers to an ancient Chinese coin with a hole in the center. A leather cover is then sewn over the coin. The coin adds weight and the feathers add balance to the ball. Similar to the game of hacky sack, jianzi is played by using any body part, except for the player s hands, to keep it from touching the ground. The game can also be played like badminton where players use their body to propel the jianzi over a net to their opponent. Despite the many types of jianzi that can be found today, for competitive play the official featherball used in the sport of Shuttlecock consists of 4 equal length goose or duck feathers conjoined at a plastic base. It weighs approximately 15 grams. The total length of the ball is 15 to 18 cm. Today, jianzi is popular throughout Asia and Europe. The game initially evolved from ancient military exercises in China. In the early twentieth century, jianzi also spread to Europe. Today there are international championship competitions. The most recent World Shuttlecock Championship was held in Hungary in October Jianzi is also a great form of exercise and helps to improve hand-eye coordination. Best of all, you don t need a lot of space to play! To get the feel for playing jianzi, warm up by hitting it on the palm of your hand. If that feels comfortable, try it with your elbow or knee. Finally, try it with your foot the top of your foot or the instep. Try kicking it with one foot and then the other. When you feel confident mix it up. Kick the jianzi off your foot, then off of your knee or elbow. Now, start a game with several players kicking the jianzi back and forth. Remember not to use your hands! Alternative Suggestions: Relate the jianzi activity to health and fitness programs. It is a fun way to sneak in a daily dose of exercise. Work with a science educator to explore some of the ancient Chinese inventions listed on the school bulletin board. For example, learn more about kites or snowflakes. Boston Children s Museum,

13 Chinese Hand Drums Bo Lang Gu 拨浪鼓 Exhibit Space: Theatre / Qianyun Several traditional Chinese instruments are featured in the opera theatre. With this activity visitors have a chance to make their own music. Program Length/Audience: Activity can be set up for 2-3 hours. Visitors will need minutes to complete. Young children will enjoy playing with the drums but will need assistance making their own. Children age 6 and above should be able to make a drum on their own with some direction. Activity Objectives: Drums are popular in Chinese culture and are used for music, celebration, even cheering on your favorite team. These simple hand drums are made using materials found at home. Try to make your own. Materials needed: 2 paper cups (8 oz size) 1 dowel (about the length of a pencil or chopstick) 2 beads piece of ribbon or yarn (about inches) tape scissors ruler and pencil (optional) Procedures: 2 General Introduction: A popular old-fashioned noise-making toy, the Chinese drum (rattle) is twisted in the hand so that the beads bounce off it and make a noise. These drums remain relevant to daily life in China and are an easily recognized cultural symbol. With practice you can get a good rhythm going! What s next? Cut the two paper cups so they are both approximately 1½ inches high. (The bottom of the cups will be the drum heads.) Cut tabs into the top of the cup. (Be careful not to cut all the way to the bottom of the cup.) Fold down every other tab inside the cup. Thread the beads so that they are about 9-10 apart. (These can be adjusted later to get the best sound.) 2 Drum activity procedures and concept courtesy of Kathy Lobo, Belmont Public Schools, Boston Children s Museum,

14 Tie the ribbon with the beads to the center of the dowel. (Make sure that the beads are even.) Fold one tab out so that the dowel can be inserted in the center of a cup. String the beads across the middle of the cup. Slot the two sides of the drum together. Tape around the two slots that hold the dowel in place. Spin the dowel to make the tethered beads beat the drum! Keywords drum culture music percussion instrument Background Information: The history of Chinese percussion instruments is longer than any other type of traditional Chinese instrument. The character for drum gu 鼓 was first recorded in ancient inscriptions on oracle bones and tortoise shells dating from the Shang Dynasty (1600BCE-1100BCE). At that time more than 50 percent of Chinese instruments were percussive in nature. Percussion instruments produce sound through striking on the surface. Common materials used for making percussion instruments in the past were gold, rock, wood and bamboo. The percussion section is the most important section in Chinese opera and helps to create the atmosphere of the performance stately, imposing, dramatic, or mysterious. Because of the wide variety of sound effects made by percussion instruments, they are also frequently used to convey joyful or exciting occasions such as harvests or marriages, and are also used for the celebration of Chinese festivals. Not only are drums important to performance art, they are also an indispensable part of traditional folk art. Whereas large drums, cymbals and bells create the percussion section of a Chinese orchestra, small hand-held toy drums can be enjoyed by a greater number of people and can go anywhere. Anyone can enjoy the pleasure of a toy drum that utilizes common materials and shows a rustic character. These simple toys can be used as decorations for a holiday or festival, but they can also be appreciated as knickknacks to be played with for daily enjoyment. Originally, small hand drums such as these were used to call women from their homes to see the wares of the peddler who was passing through town. When spun from side to side, the beads hit the drumhead to make it resound. Children love to play with anything that makes noise, so this is a popular item with them. Such small versions are sometimes also referred to as rattle drums. Alternative Suggestions: Connect the drums to other musical exhibits or activities within the museum. Use the story of the opera, White Snake Lady, as an opportunity to focus on folk tales. Explore other Chinese stories or look at folk tales from around the world. Boston Children s Museum,

15 Chinese Paper Lanterns Deng Long 灯笼 Exhibit Space: Countryside / Dou Dou Watch Dou Dou s video. You will notice that she loves doing crafts and that she celebrates a special festival with her family. Lantern making combines both of these elements it is a decorative craft that can be used to celebrate many traditional Chinese holidays. Program Length/Audience: Activity can be set up for 1-2 hours. Visitors will need minutes to complete. This activity is best suited to children age 5 and above. Activity Objectives: Paper lanterns are a well recognized and identifiable symbol of China. They are frequently used as decorations for Chinese holidays and celebrations, including the Lantern Festival, Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, and Ghost Festival, among others. Materials needed: yellow construction paper (8 x 11 suggested) red construction paper (8 x 11 suggested) scissors clear tape string hole punch stick or dowel (about the length of a pencil or chopstick) tassels (optional) Procedures: General Introduction: Display photographs or examples of different types of Chinese lanterns. Ask what sorts of things the lanterns remind them of. Have they seen similar lanterns locally at a Chinese restaurant, in Chinatown, during, Chinese festivals, etc? Invite visitors to make their own paper lantern. What s next? Roll the yellow paper lengthwise to form a cylinder. Tape the sides together. Fold the red paper in half widthwise. Make cuts in the red paper about ½-1 inch apart along the folded edge of the paper. Be careful not to cut through the unfolded edge of the paper. Open the red paper, wrap the uncut ends around the yellow cylinder, and tape it on. Leave some of the yellow paper showing at either the top or bottom of the lantern. Using the hole punch, add two holes at the top edge of the lantern. Tie a piece of string to the two holes and attach the stick to carry the lantern. Boston Children s Museum,

16 Add a tassel at the bottom or side of the lantern for more decoration. (Optional) For a different effect, make a longer cylinder and tape several smaller red shades to it, one above the other. (Optional) Keywords: decoration festival celebration craft Lantern Festival Mid-Autumn Festival Ghost Festival Background Information: Throughout the history of China, lanterns have been symbols of hope, rejuvenation, and celebration. Originally, people hung colored lanterns in front of their doors to drive away evil spirits. But today, with society's development, the colored lantern has largely become a symbol of traditional Chinese culture, playing an even more important role in celebrations and ceremonies, such as burials and weddings, and adding to the celebratory atmosphere of many traditional holidays and festivals. As a cultural symbol, the lantern represents joyfulness, the return of spring, and a renewal of the earth. Chinese lanterns come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and materials. They can be round, square, long, or thin. They also come in many forms including human figures, animals, or flowers. Lanterns can be made of many materials too, from expensive silk panels and fragrant wood, to more simple paper and bamboo. One of the most important holidays in China is the Lantern Festival, or Yuanxiao Jie 元宵节. This festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar year. The day is celebrated because it is the first full moon of the new year. The bright light and warmth of the lanterns was a reminder that the cold winter would soon end. In many cities in China and in other countries, elaborate lanterns are made to help celebrate the Lantern Festival. Lanterns are also commonly used to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, or Zhongqiu Jie 中秋节. This holiday falls on the 15 th day of the 8 th lunar month of the Chinese calendar (usually around mid- or late- September), a date that parallels the Autumn Equinox of the solar calendar. This is the ideal time, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest, to celebrate the abundance of the summer s harvest. The lanterns are a reminder of the moon s glow. A third holiday where lanterns play an important role is the Ghost Festival, or Gui Jie 鬼节. Celebrated in midsummer on the 15 th day of the 7 th lunar month in the Chinese calendar, this date is a memorial to the ancestors. As part of the festivities lighted lanterns are often released on water, which signifies giving directions to the lost ghosts and spirits of the ancestors and other deities. Alternative Suggestions: Connect the lanterns to other paper related arts and crafts that are done in the museum. Explore other Chinese folk crafts such as paper folding or paper cutting. Boston Children s Museum,

17 Paper Cutting Jian Zhi 剪纸 Exhibit Space: Pavilion The Pavilion serves as the iconic center of the Children of Hangzhou exhibit. This space showcases key aspects of traditional Chinese culture, including calligraphy, painting, poetry, and good luck symbols. This activity helps reinforce some of the more traditional aspects of Chinese culture. Program Length/Audience: Activity can be set up for 1-2 hours. Visitors will need minutes to complete. This activity is best suited to children age 5 and above. Activity Objectives: Introduce visitors to a traditional Chinese folk art paper cutting. Papercuts are typically used for decoration, especially around the time of holidays and festivals. They frequently show good luck symbols special characters, deities, flowers, or animals and often depict scenes of daily life. Materials needed: templates for papercut designs scissors glue sticks colored paper (8 x 11 ) pencils (optional) Procedures: General Introduction: Ask visitors what types of images or symbols remind them of China. Talk about how flowers and animals in Chinese culture often represent good luck or good wishes. Invite them to create their own papercut of a symbol that is meaningful to them. What s next? Choose one of the papercut templates. Carefully cut away all of the black paper so that only the colored design remains. Glue your cutting onto a piece of colored paper. (Pick a different color so that the design will really show up well.) Add another papercut design to make a unique picture, or use the colored paper to draw your own design and then cut it out. (Make sure that all of the lines connect!) Keywords: papercut symbol pattern design template fortune Boston Children s Museum,

18 auspicious Background Information: Chinese paper cutting is a traditional art form that has existed for thousands of years. When paper was first invented in China it was considered a precious commodity. People with access to paper for an entertainment purpose, such as art, were usually nobles or from wealthy families. From the 7 th to 13 th century, paper cutting became more popular as paper was more widely available. In the rural countryside in China, paper cutting was a traditionally female activity. In the past, every girl was expected to master it and brides were often judged by their skill. Papercut designs were also used as patterns, especially for embroidery and lacquer work. Professional paper cutting artists, on the other hand, are usually male and work together in workshops. Today, papercuts are chiefly decorative, especially in the Chinese countryside. They ornament walls, windows, doors, columns, mirrors, lamps, and lanterns in homes and are often given as gifts. In rural areas, entrances decorated with papercuts are supposed to bring good luck. For this reason, people frequently decorate their homes and doorways with papercuts during the Chinese New Year Festival, or Chun Jie 春节. The chosen designs typically reflect aspects of life such as prosperity, health, or harvest. Some papercuts represent stories about the happiness gained from the accomplishment of common goals. Many patterns and designs used for papercuts are derived from the Chinese language. Because the language has many homophones, words that have the same sound but different meanings, there are many symbols in China that represent fortune, good wishes, or luck because of how the word sounds. For example: Fish 鱼 (yu) sounds like surplus 餘 (yu) Bat 蝠 (fu) sounds like good fortune 福 (fu) Peony 富贵花 (fuguihua) means "flower of riches 富 and honor 贵 Other auspicious symbols include: Butterfly 蝴蝶 (hudie) a representation of happiness and love Phoenix 凤凰 (fenghuang) a representation of good fortune and opportunity Crane 鹤 (he) a representation of longevity Alternative Suggestions: Connect the papercuts to other paper related arts and crafts that are done in the museum. Invite an artist who makes papercuts to give a workshop so that visitors to learn how to create their own designs; or offer a paper cutting demonstration. Have an international paper festival celebrating paper crafts from around the world. Templates Make photocopies of the attached templates on colored paper. Red is a lucky color in China and yellow is also popular. Avoid using white paper as this color is traditionally reserved for funerals. Boston Children s Museum,

19 Chinese Papercut Template 1 Chun 春 is the Chinese character for spring. It is a common Chinese New Year decoration, as Chinese New Year is called the Spring Festival in Chinese. It is often placed on windows, doors and other places to welcome in the spring. Chinese Papercut Template 2 Boston Children s Museum,

20 Xi or shuang xi 喜喜 is the Chinese character for double happiness. It is a common Chinese decoration, particularly at weddings as a wish for happiness. It is also occasionally used during Chinese New Year for its implication of much happiness for the year ahead. Chinese Papercut Template 3 Boston Children s Museum,

21 The image of the rooster is very common in Chinese folk art. For thousands of years Chinese people relied on roosters to tell time in the morning. It is also a symbol of hard work and one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. Boston Children s Museum,

22 Chinese Papercut Template 4 Hudie 蝴蝶, or butterfly, is a very popular Chinese decoration. It is a homophone of the Chinese word, old age lao die 老耋. It is often used to symbolize longevity. Butterfly 1 Boston Children s Museum,

23 Butterfly 2 Boston Children s Museum,

24 Chinese Papercut Template 5 The Chinese word for bat is bianfu 蝙蝠. Fu is a homophone for the Chinese character for good fortune, which is also fu 福. Therefore, it is a common Chinese symbol for good luck for use during Chinese New Year and general decoration for all occasions. Boston Children s Museum,

25 Public Programs Performances and Workshops In order to enrich the cultural experience and bring an authentic taste of China to our visitors, a number of performances and workshops were scheduled in Boston throughout the exhibit run. Most of these programs were scheduled for minutes in a suitable museum space, either a stage or classroom type area. These suggested programs are meant to correspond to a theme/space within the exhibit. These programs include workshop ideas that can be conducted by museum educators with content knowledge of China, and performance and demonstration ideas that may be best facilitated by local China specialists in the areas of dance, music, and martial arts. Please see the list of Community Resources to find local organizations with an interest in sharing and promoting Chinese culture in your area. The full BCM program calendar is also included if you are interested in additional performance and workshop options. Paper Folding Demonstration Martial Arts Workshop Qianyun Performing Opera Boston Children s Museum,

26 Suggested Programs Traditional Music Concert Exhibit Tie-in: Weicheng likes to play the cello and hopes to one day accompany his grandfather on the yueqin, a stringed instrument that is nicknamed the moon guitar because of its round body. Program Objective: Introduce traditional Chinese instruments, such as the yueqin, to museum visitors. Duration/Audience: Program should be scheduled for minutes. Visitors of all ages. Procedure: Invite a local Chinese musician or group to perform at the museum. This could include an ensemble of different instruments percussion, strings, and winds or an individual instrument, such as the erhu (Chinese violin) or yangqin (hammered dulcimer). Contact a local Chinese school to see if they offer music classes and would be willing to volunteer to perform or provide a student concert. Martial Arts Demonstration Exhibit Tie-in: Gangzheng loves sports! Chinese martial arts, or wushu, is a traditional activity for both athletic pursuit and relaxation that is seen throughout China. Program Objective: Introduce traditional Chinese martial arts to visitors, such as tai chi, bagua, or specific animal forms, like praying mantis or tiger. Duration/Audience: Program should be scheduled for minutes, longer if a workshop is included. Visitors of all ages. Procedure: Invite an instructor or small group of students from a local martial arts school to give a demonstration or workshop. Make sure that the martial arts style they teach is in fact Chinese. (Please note that taekwondo is Korean and karate, judo, and aikido are Japanese.) The demonstration might show different styles of martial arts, including external styles such as shuai jiao 摔跤 wrestling and internal styles such as tai chi chuan 太極拳. If the instructor is willing, offer a short workshop following the demonstration where students can learn some basic stretches or positions. Opera Workshop or Performance Exhibit Tie-in: Qianyun is studying to become a professional opera performer. She learns to sing, dance, and perform martial arts in order to tell classic stories and folk tales on stage. Program Objective: Introduce a style of traditional Chinese opera or dance to museum visitors, or introduce a Chinese folk tale. Boston Children s Museum,

27 Duration/Audience: A performance or workshop should be scheduled for approximately minutes. Visitors of all ages are welcome to observe a performance. Up to 15 people; children ages 6 and above for a workshop. Procedure 1: Performance Performance arts are an important part of Chinese culture. Chinese opera in particular combines music, dance, and even martial arts movements. Invite a local dance troupe specializing in Chinese dance to give a performance. Many student groups are eager to have the opportunity to perform. A selection of 3-4 folk dances or regional dances could be included If your area has an opera troupe that performs a regional style of Chinese opera, for example Beijing or Cantonese style, invite them to perform. A selection of 2-3 different songs could be included as well as a brief introduction of the musical instruments and performance movements. (Like Western opera, Chinese opera is an acquired taste. Short musical pieces may work best for a museum audience.) Procedure 2: Workshop Adapt the opera activity described in the Arts of China School Program to create a workshop that can be used for general public programming. This approach might focus more on Chinese folk tales and storytelling. Using a knowledgeable staff person, host an opera workshop in the theatre space of the exhibit. For specific instructions, please refer to the School Program guide lesson on the Arts of China. Rice Dough Sculpture Workshop Exhibit Tie-in: Dou Dou s grandparents are rice farmers in the Chinese countryside. Not only is rice an important crop in China, but it can also be used for other purposes. Here glutinous rice flour is used for making crafts, another of Dou Dou s interests. Program Objective: Introduce rice dough sculpture, a traditional Chinese folk art, to visitors. Duration/Audience: Program should be scheduled for minutes. Up to 20 people; children ages 6 and above. Procedure: Folk arts have a long tradition in China and remain popular today. Along with the many well known paper crafts mentioned in this manual, making figures out of glutinous rice dough remains a popular activity in both rural and urban areas. If you have a rice dough artist in your area, invite them to give a workshop. Otherwise, use the recipe and instructions included to host a workshop for visitors to learn to make their own rice dough sculptures. Recipe: 3 ½ cup salt 3 ¾ cups white flour ( King Arthur brand recommended) 3 Rice Dough Sculpture Recipe and instructions provided by Yu-Chuan Dao, courtesy of Chinese Culture Connection, Malden, MA, Boston Children s Museum,

28 1 tsp. Alum (found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores) 1 ¾ cups water ½ cup glutinous rice flour (found in Asian grocery stores) Icing color (not food coloring; found in kitchen supply stores) Note: Dough should be prepared in advance of the workshop. Include several colors as well as black and white for visitors to work with. Instructions: Dissolve salt and alum in water. Mix white flour and rice flour in bowl. Pour in salt-alum mixture gradually. Mix well. Knead dough well on a board or counter. Make golf ball sized pieces and flatten. Place dough pieces in boiling water for 1-2 minutes. Remove them when they begin to float. When cool knead in coloring. Use latex gloves to prevent staining hands. Do not use more than two to three finger daubs of coloring. A little goes a long way! Keep dough tightly covered in refrigerator until use. To make ornaments, let dough warm to room temperature for easier handling. Make small animals, flowers, etc. that can be stuck on a toothpick or kebab-stick. o Start with a caterpillar! This is an easy figure that allows visitors to become comfortable with the dough. o Choose a color to work with. o Knead the dough to remove any air bubbles. o Form a series of small balls out of the dough (about the size of a pencil eraser). Make some larger or smaller to define the head or tail. o Line the balls up in a row so that they are side to side. Gently pinch or squeeze the balls together to form the shape of the body. o Use a small piece of white dough to make eyes. Because these will be tiny, use a toothpick to help place them on the head. o Use a small piece of black dough to make pupils. Again, use the toothpick to place them on the eyes. o Using a different color of dough, make a leaf for the caterpillar to eat or sit on. o Knead the dough and then use your palms to flatten the dough and shape it into a leaf. Use a toothpick to add veins to the surface. o Place the leaf of a piece of cardboard or Styrofoam. Position the caterpillar on top of the leaf. Let dry. When dough objects are completely dry this may take between 3 to 10 days depending on object size and humidity coat with clear nail polish for a shiny effect and preservation. Boston Children s Museum,

29 Calligraphy Workshop Exhibit Tie-in: The pavilion offers several activities that relate to Chinese language and calligraphy. Practice writing poetry or try to write characters on your own using a brush and water. Program Objective: Introduce visitors to Chinese language and how to write traditional calligraphy using a brush and ink. Duration/Audience: Program should be scheduled for minutes. Up to 18 people; children ages 7 and above. Procedure: Invite a local calligrapher or Chinese language teacher to give a workshop on writing Chinese characters. This could include an explanation of how characters have evolved from ancient times to the present, which would allow visitors to identify the original pictographic form and see how it relates to writing today. Visitors should also be given the opportunity to write characters using traditional ink, brushes, and calligraphy paper. As an alternative, use knowledgeable museum staff to lead a calligraphy or brush painting workshop using either the painting activity described in the Arts of China School Program, or the calligraphy writing activity described in the Post-Visit Activities of the Children s Life in China School Program. Boston Children s Museum,

30 Public Programs Large Scale Public Programs Large Scale Public Programs are museum-wide festivals that we suggest take place at least once during the exhibit run. These special events bring visibility to the Museum and allow for greater collaboration with the community and local China-related organizations. They are also opportunities for in-house collaboration among different departments within the museum so that the entire museum becomes invested in and involved with the Children of Hangzhou exhibit. These programs can take on various forms: Hold a holiday celebration for Chinese New Year or Mid Autumn Festival to celebrate Chinese culture in all its forms. Coordinate a museum-wide festival such as a fitness fair or art fest that focuses on games and sports around the world or international crafts, respectively. Work with other museum educators to relate the China programs to other disciplines, such as art, science, or health. Work with local organizations to participate in a community event that is held outside the museum. This is a wonderful way to promote the exhibit and other museum programs. A list of Chinese holidays and festivals is included here to help plan a celebration during the exhibit run at your institution. These dates may also coincide with local community events, such as Dragon Boat Festival, that your museum could use as an outreach opportunity. Additional exhibit activities and sample programs are included for your reference. Zongzi Performances Races Boston Children s Museum,

31 Holidays and Festival Dates Chun Jie 春节 / Spring Festival Commonly known as Chinese New Year, Chun Jie is the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar. When literally translated it means Spring Festival and marks the coming of spring. Mid January Mid February Qing Ming Jie 清明节 / Clear and Bright Remembering the lives of ancestors is an important part of Chinese culture. Qing ming, which means clear and bright, is a celebration to honor the dead. It is often known as Tomb Sweeping Day and is a joyous occasion. Food offerings are made, incense is lit, and paper money is burned. April 4 th or 5 th Duanwu Jie 端午节 / Dragon Boat Festival The Dragon Boat Festival, or double fifth, marks the beginning of summer. Boat races are held and special rice dumplings called zongzi are eaten to commemorate the life of poet Qu Yuan. Mid May Mid June Qixi 七夕 / Seventh Night Qixi falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month and is often called Chinese Valentine s Day. This holiday commemorate the love story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl who are separated by the Milky Way and are united for one night only. August Zhongyuan Jie 中元节 / Gui Jie 鬼节 / Ghost Festival The Ghost Festival is held during the seventh month of the lunar calendar. Throughout the month, spirits roam the earth visiting their families. Paper lanterns are often lit and set afloat on rivers to guide the spirits of the dead. Mid August Mid September Zhongqiu Jie 中秋节 / Mid Autumn Festival Mid Autumn Festival, or Zhongqiu Jie, marks the arrival of fall. It is a celebration of the harvest moon, when the moon appears at its brightest. People light lanterns, eat special moon cakes, and tell folk tales about the moon. Mid September Mid October Boston Children s Museum,

32 Additional Activities Nianhua 年画 Block Prints Holiday Celebration: Chinese New Year/Spring Festival Program Length/Audience: Visitors will need 20 minutes to complete. Would work best in a classroom setting as a workshop. Children age 6 and above should be able to do this activity on their own after some instruction. Provide a few pre-made blocks for younger children to practice stamping the image. Activity Objectives: Print making is a traditional Chinese folk art. Nianhua (nian 年 means year and hua 画 means picture or painting) are known as New Year Prints. They frequently show good luck symbols, local gods, or wishes for peace or happiness. Introduce a folk art to visitors as well as some important Chinese symbols. Materials needed: styrofoam plates sharpened pencils (with rounded tip to draw on styrofoam) red block printing ink white or colored paper (not red) paint rollers Procedures: General Introduction: Ask visitors what types of images or symbols remind them of China. Talk about how flowers and animals in Chinese culture often represent good luck or good wishes. Because of the auspicious meaning of these symbols, families often decorate their homes for the New Year with this type of imagery in the hopes of bringing good fortune for the year ahead. Happy scenes from daily life are also commonly seen. What s next? Choose one of the symbols mentioned to create a picture fish, butterfly, flower, bat or create your own image. Using a pencil, draw your picture onto a Styrofoam plate. Make sure that the outline is clear. (Remember that the image will appear in reverse when printed so make sure any words or characters are backwards.) Using the paint roller, apply a coat of red paint to the plate. Retrace the lines of your drawing to clear any red paint from the outline. Boston Children s Museum,

33 Press the plate firmly onto a piece of paper so that the image transfers to the paper. Keywords: nianhua block prints symbol festival celebration good fortune auspicious lucky picture Background Information: Until the mid-20th century, nianhua (New Year woodblock prints) were the most common form of household decoration in China. As the title of the genre suggests, most nianhua were designed as part of New Year celebrations, and with their themes of enduring optimism and brilliant colors they brought a spark of light into an otherwise dreary mid-winter environment. Once posted, the prints would continue to influence the spiritual, social and cultural values of the family long after the initial festival had passed. Traditional New Year pictures, usually made by the block printing method, are characterized by simple, clear lines, vibrant colors, and scenes of prosperity. Homophones, words that have the same sound but different meanings, are also used because many symbols in China represent fortune, good wishes, or luck because of how the word sounds. The printing method consists of several steps: drawing and tracing, block engraving, printing, coloring and, in some cases, mounting. The finished pictures, therefore, have the features of both woodcut prints and Chinese paintings, making a special branch in traditional folk art. The themes expressed in New Year pictures cover a wide range, from plump babies holding a fish to the Old God of Longevity, from landscapes to birds and flowers, from the plowing cattle in spring to rich harvests in autumn. Human figures often show artistic exaggeration, but the message in all pictures is always good luck, long life, prosperity, or other auspicious wishes to the people. Typical objects depicted in the pictures include the crane or the peach, which both symbolize a long life; and the plum or peony, which are marks of good fortune and happiness. Watermelon or pomegranate seeds can be used to represent children. The colors most favored are red, green, purple, yellow and black because they are bright and also contrast with one another to give fresh, vivid, and inspiring impressions. Boston Children s Museum,

34 Dragon Boat Puppets Holiday Celebration: Dragon Boat Festival Program Length/Audience: Activity can be set up for 1-2 hours. Visitors will need minutes to complete. This activity is well suited for children ages 4 and above. Younger children may need assistance cutting out the templates. Activity Objectives: Introduce visitors to the Dragon Boat Festival, an annual Asian celebration in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and growing in popularity in North America. As the name suggests, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated with a series of dragon boat races. While children do not typically paddle in the boats, this puppet activity encourages them to get involved and act out their own races. Materials needed: dragon boat and figure templates (multiple colors) popsicle sticks scissors glue dots or glue sticks masking tape pencils/hole punch/markers/glitter glue pens (to decorate) Procedures: General Introduction: Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese (lunar) calendar and is also known as double fifth. The holiday originated in ancient China and is still celebrated today. It commemorates the death of the poet Qu Yuan. Tell visitors the story of Qu Yuan s life and why he is still commemorated with this festival. (See background information below.) What s next? Choose a colored boat template and cut around the black outline. Cut out figure templates. Add a glue dot/apply glue stick to the front of one of the figures and stick it to the back of the boat. (The figures will look like they are in the boat.) Invite visitors to decorate their dragon boat and figures using the different materials. Add a glue dot to the Popsicle stick and stick it to the back of the boat; reinforce with a piece of masking tape if necessary. Invite children to act out their own dragon boat race. Enjoy! (Combine with the hand drum activity to simulate the drummer in the boat.) Keywords: Dragon Boat celebration festival Qu Yuan Boston Children s Museum,

35 lunar calendar Duanwu Jie 端午节 (Chinese name for the holiday) Background Information: Duanwu Jie, known as Dragon Boat Festival in English, is a traditional Chinese holiday. Occurring on the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, the holiday is also known as double fifth. The principle event of this annual celebration is the Dragon Boat Race. For more than 2000 years, dragon boats have been raced on the waterways of China, and today Dragon Boat Festivals are celebrated the world over. Dragon Boats are long narrow boats powered by a group of paddlers. A traditional Hong Kong dragon boat is a sleek 39-foot long solid teak racer decorated with a vividly colored dragon s head at the prow and tail at the stern. A standard team of paddlers includes approximately 22 people 20 paddlers, 1 drummer who sets the pace for the crew, and 1 steersperson who navigates the course. Depending on the size of the boat, there could be as few as 10 paddlers to as many as 50. Paddlers must work in unison to get full power from their swift strokes. The Story of Qu Yuan Traditionally, the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the life and death of the ancient poet-patriot, Qu Yuan ( BCE). Qu Yuan was a minister who advocated social reforms in his home state of Chu. When the king decided to ally with the increasingly powerful state of Qin, Qu Yuan was banished for opposing the alliance. In exile, Qu Yuan wrote poetry expressing his concern for his country and people. Twenty eight years later, the state of Qin conquered the Chu capital. In despair, Qu Yuan committed suicide by drowning himself in the Mi Lo River on the fifth day of the fifth month. The people of Chu rushed to the river to rescue Qu Yuan. Alas, it was too late. The people of Chu sprinkled rice in the water to feed the fish and the river dragon so that they would not eat Qu Yuan s body and spirit. Many years later, Qu Yuan s ghost appeared complaining that he was hungry because the river dragon was eating the rice that was meant for him. Fearful of the trouble a hungry ghost can cause, the people were eager to satisfy Qu Yuan s ghost. They wrapped and tied the rice in bamboo leaves before throwing it in the river. This is the origin of zongzi, steamed rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo and filled with sweet or savory fillings. Eating zongzi is now as much a part of the Dragon Boat Festival as the boat races. Boston Children s Museum,

36 Sample Programs NOTE: The following programs were done either in 2008 or 2015 Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Jie 端午节 ): June 8, 2008 The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Boston is an annual community event held on the Charles River in Cambridge each spring. Boston Children s Museum has been instrumental in organizing this event since its inception in 1979; 2009 will mark the 30 th anniversary of this celebration. The museum collaborates with many local organizations to promote Asian culture in the New England area. On the Charles River 9:00-5:00 Hong Kong Dragon Boat Race Finals Along Memorial Drive 12:00-5:00 Asian Foods In the Arts and Crafts Tent 12:00-5:00 Chinese Arts and Crafts Activities provided by Greater Boston Chinese Culture Association and Boston Children s Museum Boston side (12:00-12:30) 12:00-12:10 Eye-dotting Ceremony 12:10-12:20 Dragon Dance by Wah Lum Kung Fu 12:20-12:30 Dragon Dance Parade over Bridge with Sponsors Cambridge side in Performance Tent (12:30-5:00) 12:30 12:40 Dragon Dance by Wah Lum Kung Fu 12:40 1:00 Opening Ceremony 1:00-1:30 Chinese Music Ensemble, Chinese Yoyo, and traditional Chinese dance by GBCCA (Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association) 1:30 1:45 Korean Poongmul Drum/Dance Family Troupe 1:45-2:15 Hula and Tahitian Dance performance by Polynesian Dance Arts 2:15-2:45 Japanese Taiko Drumming by Odaiko New England 2:45-3:15 Chinese Martial Arts and dragon/lion dance by Wah Lum Kung Fu 3:15-3:45 Chinese folk dance and music (drum and hulusi) by CCCC (Cambridge Center for Chinese Culture) 3:45-4:00 Korean Poongmul Drum/Dance Family Troupe 4:00-4:30 Hula and Tahitian Dance performance by Polynesian Dance Arts 4:30 5:00 Japanese Taiko Drumming by Odaiko New England 5:00 Award Ceremony Boston Children s Museum,

37 Autumn Moon Festival (Zhongqiu Jie 中秋节 ): September 14, 2008 Autumn Moon Festival is smaller-scale event that is held in the museum. Because this holiday is also celebrated in Japan and Korea it can be used as an opportunity to recognize different traditions throughout East Asia, or it can be used to celebrate a single culture, in this case China. The Third Floor Bridge (outside the Global Gallery; 3 rd Floor) 11:00am-4:00pm (ongoing) Make a Paper Lantern! The Common (2 nd Floor) 11:00am & 12:00pm KidStage (1 st Floor) 1:00pm & 2:00pm The Common (2 nd Floor) 1:30pm & 2:30pm Traditional Music Concert by Youth Eastern String Troupe Storytelling by local author/illustrator Grace Lin Martial Arts Demonstrations Chinese New Year Festival 2008 (Chun Jie 春节 ): February 17, 2008 Chinese New Year is the most important holiday of the year for Chinese families. People thoroughly clean their homes and put up special New Year decorations. Chinese New Year is a time for family gatherings, good food, interesting games, and wishes for good luck, wealth, health, and happiness. It is a wonderful occasion to have a large celebration that gets the whole museum involved! Museum Wide 11:00 4:00 On-Going Activities, Performances, and Workshops Johnny s Workbench (Floor 2) Make a Mouse Hat to wear around the museum 3 rd Floor Bridge Help make a big picture for a Chinese story Mouse Wedding 2 nd Floor Common Try on a child s Lion Head and do the Lion Dance! (3:00 4:00pm ONLY) 2 nd Floor Common Make Red Envelopes! A classic Chinese New Year tradition! 2 nd Floor Bridge Calligraphy: Write your name in Chinese! Boston Black (3 rd Floor) Make a Paper Toy Mouse 1 st Floor KidStage (Please get tickets at the information desk; limited seating) 11:30 12:00 Chinese Traditional Dance and Folk Arts by GBCCA 12:30 12:45 Why Rat Came First: Participatory play about the Chinese Zodiac! 1:30-2:00 Chinese Traditional Dance and Folk Arts by GBCCA Boston Children s Museum,

38 2:30-2:45 Why Rat Came First: Participatory play about the Chinese Zodiac! 3:00-3:45 Why Rat Came First: Participatory play about the Chinese Zodiac! 2 nd Floor Common 11:00 12:30 Yangqin, Chinese dulcimer, by Zhentian Zhang and students of Boston Chinese Dulcimer Ensemble 1:00-1:30 Chinese Lion Dance Parade by GBCCA Acrobatic Performance by Wangju Chen 3:00-3:30 Chinese Lion Dance Parade by GBCCA 2 nd Floor Art Studio Make a Paper Lantern: Art workshop 11:30, 12:30, 1:30 & 2:30 Please sign-up for workshops at the Art Studio 30-minutes before start time; recommended for age 5 and above 2 nd Floor Play Space (ongoing from 11:00-4:00) Messy Sensory Area Pin whiskers on the Mouse And bring home as a souvenir! Parent Resource Room Chinese Baby Snacks: Taste some snacks that toddlers in China often eat, and compare with what toddlers in the U.S. often eat! Music and Movement Room Learn Chinese through songs (30-minute programs begin at 11:00 and 1:30) Boston Children s Museum,

39 Chinese New Year Festival 2015 Boston Children s Museum,

40 Chinese New Year Festival 2015 Boston Children s Museum,

41 School Programs The School Programs for Children of Hangzhou allow for in-depth (one-hour) focus on the lives of contemporary Chinese children at school, at home, and beyond. These programs utilize materials objects, photographs, tools that are otherwise not necessarily available in the exhibit. School programs should be taught by knowledgeable Museum educators. Sufficient training and preparation ahead of time is essential. Pre- and Post-Visit Information sent to classroom teachers who have made a reservation for a school program provide excellent suggestions for preparing the students before they come and following-up with their class after their museum visit. In-exhibit program: Children s Life in China (Grade K-7) Boston Children s Museum,