K2 Little Life Explorers – A Journey of Community Exploration
Stepping out of the classroom and into the community to explore the diverse aspects of community life!
Led by their teachers, K2 children ventured off campus to the Hudong Neighborhood Center. There, they delved into understanding their community, explored the mysteries of life facilities and shops, and experienced the value and beauty of labor in their own way.
Stop 1: Entering the Community, Discovering Life’s Conveniences
"What is a neighborhood center? What is it used for?" With these questions in mind, children excitedly went to the Hudong Neighborhood Center like little detectives. This familiar yet unfamiliar place instantly transformed into a "paradise for exploration." They worked in groups, holding small task cards and shuttling between shops–the market, noodle shop, pharmacy, barbershop, convenience store… At each location, children marked their journey on a "Community I Know" adventure map.
"Wow, there's a market here, selling so many fresh vegetables!"
"The chef at the noodle shop is so amazing; she can make so many bowls of hot noodles!"
"The pharmacist at the pharmacy told me that when taking medicine, I need to read the instructions!"
From these small details that they might not usually notice, children gradually learned that there are so many interesting and important places in our lives. The Hudong Neighborhood Center not only makes everyone's life more convenient but also houses countless unsung "city heroes."
Stop 2: Transforming into "Junior Explorers," Experiencing the Greatness of Labor
During their exploration, children took out their pre-prepared interview cards and transformed into "junior explorers," beginning their professional interview journey!
"Ma’am, sir, what do you do every day at work?" Curious questions popped up from the children as they held their microphones and conducted their interviews seriously.
At the coffee shop, the busy staff told them, "When it's busy, one barista has to serve many customers at the same time, and we have to remember each person's different coffee orders and make sure not to mix them up."
At the barbershop, children learned that there are so many types of scissors and combs that are used when cutting hair.
At the pharmacy, children saw the pharmacist preparing traditional Chinese medicine for a customer. The pharmacist introduced the names and functions of various Chinese medicinal herbs to the children, who looked on with admiration. The pharmacist could remember the names of so many medicines!
The children listened attentively. After each interview, they would make a heart shape with their small hands and say in their tender voices, "Thank you, you work hard!" These were simple words of gratitude filled with the children's sincerest respect.
Stop 3: Back at School, Revisiting the Secrets Discovered on their Journey
Back at school, the children gathered with their teachers, flipping through their "Community I Know" adventure maps and excitedly recalled the morning's adventure. Who liked the market the most? Who was curious about the barber's work? The children took turns sharing their feelings and exchanging their new discoveries.
Afterwards, they transformed into "little investigators," using drawings and words to record their understanding of the community and the occupational scenes that interested them the most. Some drew the busy chef at the noodle shop, some drew the exquisite barbershop, and some drew the colorful pharmacy… Hidden within their innocent artwork was their admiration for different professions and a sense of childlike wonder.
The "Community Exploration Journey" was a fun social adventure and a vivid life education lesson. From curiosity about occupations to respect for labor; from passive observation to active questioning and recording, children discovered the value of each profession and deeply felt the meaning of labor through real-life experiences and interaction.
K1 Yarn Artists: A Fantastic Yarn Discovery Journey
Stepping out of the classroom and into the exhibition hall to explore the colorful world of yarn art!
In the vibrant world, yarn is not only a material for everyday textiles, but also a source of children's dreams and creativity. With the vitality of spring, the K1 children embarked on a unique social practice–a fantastical yarn journey. Through a series of rich and colorful activities, they deeply explored the charm of yarn creativity and experienced the infinite possibilities of art.
Stop 1: A Yarn Story – A First Encounter with the Wonderful World of Yarn
The starting point of this journey was a fun picture book, "The Knitting Mouse." Guided by their teachers, children entered an imaginative and wonderful world of yarn along with Dodo the mouse. From the origin and production process of yarn to the diverse forms of yarn, everything was there to be discovered.
Through touching, observing, and discussing, children not only felt the softness and colorfulness of yarn but also expanded their understanding of the application of yarn products in life.
Stop 2: Yarn Exhibition - Entering the Magical World of Yarn
With curiosity and anticipation for yarn, children entered artist Hu Yinping's "Xiaofang Universe Bank" exhibition. When these soft threads transformed into various art pieces under the magic of skilled artisans, the spark of creativity was ignited in the children's hearts.
Children excitedly examined the yarn art pieces meticulously crafted by the artists, collecting stamps and sharing their discoveries and surprises with their friends in the fantastical universe. Between the yarn books in the reading kingdom, the yarn lollipops in the candy kingdom, the yarn murals in the fashion kingdom and the large yarn ATM in the Universe Bank, the children were not only amazed by the artists' boundless creativity but also felt the magic and charm of knitting through careful observation.
Stop 3: Yarn-Based Activities: Fun Exploration in a Creative Makerspace
Back at school, children's enthusiasm for the yarn exhibition remained undiminished. To satisfy their curiosity and creativity, teachers prepared large weaving nets and planet models, encouraging the children to try their hand at creating. They gathered in groups, weaving their dreams through the nets or creatively assembling yarn planets to light up the universe. Under their skillful hands, creative cosmic shapes and yarn planets came to life. In the art workshop, handmade games like yarn mazes and yarn paintings further stimulated the children's boundless imagination and creativity.
This fantastical yarn journey allowed the children to learn to observe the world from a new perspective through the softness and colorfulness of yarn, and to feel the warm connection between art and life.
Every practical activity is a journey of discovery and growth, and an important bridge connecting children to a multifaceted world. We hope everyone continues to maintain their love and curiosity for exploration and discovering the beauty and unknowns of life in their dialogue with the world!
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