With the rhythm of solar terms guiding the way, the second graders at SHSID Lin'gang Campus recently embarked on a unique Chinese Culture Week. From exploring the 24 solar terms, listening to an expert lecture, painting eggs, and tasting the first boiled egg of Lixia (the Beginning of Summer), to experiencing the balance of strength and grace in Chinese martial arts – this was a cultural journey that began with the solar terms, returned to daily life, and sparked creativity.

Listening – Birds in the 24 Solar Terms

To help children understand the solar terms beyond just names in books, the Lin'gang Campus specially invited Professor Zhang Dongsheng from the College of Fisheries and Life Sciences at Shanghai Ocean University. Professor Zhang, who has deep expertise in bird biodiversity and evolution and has long been active in ecological conservation education, delivered a lively and engaging lecture titled "Birds in the 24 Solar Terms."

Thanks to Lin'gang's unique natural environment, the area has become a paradise for birds. Professor Zhang told the children that there are about 500 bird species in Shanghai – and over 400 of them can be spotted right here in Lin'gang. The children were amazed, their mouths agape, and soon began recalling birds they had seen on campus, on their way home, or in the coastal wetlands.

Professor Zhang did not stop at distant facts. Instead, he gently guided the children to start from their own lives. "Where have you seen sparrows?" he asked. "Isn't it often near the cafeteria or by the trash bins?" The children nodded eagerly, their eyes lighting up. Observing nature, they realized, begins with the patch of grass or the tree they pass every day. One student raised a hand: "I saw a light-vented bulbul by the school flower bed!" Another added, "I saw an egret by the pond in my neighborhood!" The classroom instantly turned into a lively sharing session of bird sightings.

Professor Zhang also prepared beautiful bird-watching handbooks as prizes for children who actively answered questions. Those who received them eagerly flipped through the pages, their eyes completely drawn to the stunning photographs of rare and beautiful birds, unwilling to close the book.

Painting – Lixia in the Palm of Their Hands

Besides the lecture, the second graders also took part in another traditional activity on Thursday – egg painting. With focused expressions, the children held their paintbrushes and carefully drew patterns on smooth, round eggs. Some painted blooming flowers, others adorable birds, and still others depicted spring as they imagined it. The classroom was quiet and warm, with occasional soft exchanges: "Look at what I painted!" "Wow, that's so beautiful!"

After painting, each child received a warm boiled egg – the first egg of Lixia, symbolizing health and completeness. The children held their eggs as if they were precious treasures. Voices rose one after another in the classroom: "I want to take this home to share with my parents!" "I never knew we eat boiled eggs for Lixia – every solar term has something different to do. How fun!" Another child looked up at the teacher and asked with anticipation, "What's the next solar term?"

A simple little egg not only adorned the tail end of spring but also warmed the children's understanding of tradition in their hands.

Practicing – Strength in Every Stance

At the end of the activities, the children gathered on the playground and, led by a martial arts teacher, began to practice wushu. A gentle breeze blew as they put on traditional costumes. Their movements, though still childish, were carried out with great seriousness. Punches, palm strikes, bow stances, horse stances – every move was performed with focus.

Some children tightened their small faces, their eyes filled with concentration; others slightly raised the corners of their mouths, full of curiosity and joy toward something new. The teacher patiently demonstrated and gently corrected their postures: "Keep your back straight, shoulders level, and breathe deep." The children tried their best to imitate, their small figures standing tall and firm in the sunlight.

Encouraged by the teacher, they shouted slogans in unison – young voices, yet determined. At that moment, martial arts was no longer just a scene from movies; it became a sense of backbone and confidence growing within them.

From the bird calls within the 24 solar terms, to the painted egg of Lixia held in their palms, to the Chinese spirit flowing through every stance – the second graders at Lin'gang Campus used their eyes to observe, their hands to create, and their hearts to feel during Chinese Culture Week. The solar terms were no longer unfamiliar names on a calendar, but bird songs they could hear, the egg flavor they could taste, and the moves they could practice.

Perhaps this is the best way to open the door to culture: starting with the solar terms, returning to daily life, and using it all for creation.

(Written by Shawna Zhang

Pictures by Chun'ai Xu, Yuru Liu

Reviewed by Ms. Fu Bing, Shiyu Wu, Hannah Kloeber)