This month in Art-To-Go:
The month of January is always a staff and student favorite for our education programs. TIme and again, we find that Lunar New Year is an exciting subject for students of all ages, as they connect and make meaning through language, legends, music and ancient artifacts!
Nearly 4,000 students participated in our Lunar New Year programming this month, whether through a physical visit to their classroom or a virtual visit through satellite conferencing technology.
Molly Gore Merck, Education Coordinator
What we explored:
2020 saw the re-cycle of the 12 year Zodiac calendar and the “Year of the Rat!”
To celebrate, students first investigated the science and history of both the Solar and Lunar Calendar Systems.
Next, students explored the connection between the Zodiac and Lunar Calendar through the legend of the Great Race. [Differing ages enjoyed books, puppetry or animated versions of the legend!]
Watch a short version here:
Students then identified their birth year and animal on the Zodiac calendar and brainstormed the attributes associated with that animal.
What we made:
Younger elementary students crafted Rat-shaped finger puppets and practiced their calligraphy skills by decorating their puppet with the Mandarin word for Rat.
Older elementary students learned about Hong Bao, a special New Years gifting tradition in China.
Red envelopes filled with money or goodies are traditionally given to children by their older relatives. Before placing prizes inside their envelope our students personalized their Hong Bao with rat ears and and long, curly whiskers! They included facts about Lunar New Year into their design before gifting it to a friend or family member!
Middle-school students practiced origami and calligraphy to create a unique, Rat-themed bookmark.
Students in kinder as well as high school took inspiration directly from the OJAC Collection by incorporating imagery one of our many Chinese antiquities into their artwork.
