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Grade 7: Traditional Chinese Lecture—Qingming Festival

April 14, 2021

On the morning of April 9, students of the grade-seven non-native Chinese classes participated in this semester’s third traditional Chinese lecture—The Introduction to Qingming Festival.

Qingming is the only solar term on the Chinese lunar calendar that is also set as an important traditional festival. The event started with a group of fun questions that got students hooked and participating: “Is it too late to discuss Qingming since the Qingming break has just passed?” “What do Qingming festival foods look like?” “When is Qingming festival?" ”Does it always rain during the Qingming festival?” As one student shouted out the answer of Qingming food—“Qingtuan,” the teacher added more information about this dessert with different shapes and fillings. The most important tradition of Qingming is to go back to their hometown and sweep the graves of their ancestors. Besides, it is pleasant to take a trip, plant trees, flying kites, and go swinging during this time of the year.

Following the brief introduction of Qingming, students were guided to the next part of the Qingming knowledge tour—Kites. From the history, shapes, and patterns of kites, to the world’s kite capital “Weifang” and the International Kite Festival, students were overwhelmed by how extraordinary these kites and events and how creative human minds can be. From the videos, we can see not only traditional kites but more inventive ones, such as sea creatures kites.

Since this time’s student assignment is to decorate a kite and fly it, it is necessary to make sure students keep basic safety rules in mind. The students watched the news about the delay of Shanghai-Nanjing high-speed train during this year’s Qingming Festival break and realized that the right place for kite flying is a clear and open space and do not overlook the fact that a kite string can be lethal.

After finishing their kite design, students should record a video of themselves flying it. We hope students enjoyed this activity and will always be as free as a flying kite.

(Written by G7 Non-native Chinese Group Pictures by G7 Non-native Chinese Group)