G4 “Winter Solstice” Culture Week in Wanyuan SUIS

在我们的祖辈眼中，一年并非只有简单的春夏秋冬，而是用24个如诗如画的名字串起了我们与众不同的四季。从立春到大寒，二十四节气循环不殆，草木有枯荣，身体有盛衰，生命却在追求完满。对于中国人来说，还是落到生命里的哲学。

In our ancestors’ eyes, there are 24 solar terms which are so beautiful instead of only four seasons in a year. From Beginning of spring to Great Cold, 24 solar terms go round and round with trees and grass ups and downs, bodies strong and weak, but lives are seeking fullness. For Chinese people, it still comes to the meaning of life.

在二十四节气中，冬至是一个重要的文化符号，它有着深层次的文化含义。冬至不仅指导人们应时而藏，安排生产生活，它更是一个维系着中国人亲情纽带的节日，所以我们有“冬至大如年”的说法。

Among the 24 solar terms, Winter Solstice is an important cultural symbol which contains deeply culture inside. It not only guides people arrange production of life, but also maintains Chinese family bond, so we have the saying that“Winter Solstice is greater than New Year”.

12月22日是2018之冬至。在整整一周时间里，四年级先锋班全体师生以全学科主题探究式学习，进行了浸润式的探究学习与体验。孩子们完全沉浸在冬至文化中，感受着中国传统文化的巨大魅力。孩子、老师和家长们纷纷表示：“太有意思了！”“玩中学，不亦乐乎！”“孩子说好开心的一周，我也跟着长了不少知识。”是的，我们从冬至节的起源、物候、测定、历史、民俗、文化、艺术等不同侧面，一起探寻了冬至里中国人应有的生活，了解中国先民的智慧，感受来自大地的生长力量，怎能不心生快乐？

Winter Solstice comes on 22nd December, 2018. During the whole week, teachers and students in Pioneer Class in Grade Four study together according to exploring in all the subjects into one topic, they explore and experience like immersion. Students totally immersed in the culture of Winter Solstice and feel the fantastic charm of traditional Chinese culture. All the teachers, parents as well as the students all express the feelings that: “That’s really interesting!”, “We have fun in learning as well as playing!” “Kids said it was such a happy week and I have learnt a lot from them.” That’s true, we explore the life Chinese people should have according to origin, phenology, measurement, history, folk custom, culture, arts and so on, we get to know the wisdom of ancient people, we feel the power of growth from our mother land. How can we not be happy?

冬至之问

Asking about Winter Solstice

课程伊始，我们用P4C的形式，组织孩子们围绕刺激物“苏州人过去和现在怎么过冬至”进行探讨，发问，引发思考。有意思的是，孩子们提出了一系列问题：

At the beginning of our course, we organized students discuss“How do people in Suzhou spend Winter Solstice now and past”. We use the teaching way of P4C to encourage them ask and think. Which is fun is that children asked a series of questions:

为什么24节气大部分都被人们遗忘了？Why are most of the 24 solar terms forgot by people now?为什么现在冬至没有古时候重要？Why Winter Solstice now is not as important as in ancient times?

为什么中国传统节日没有西方节日发展得好、快？

Why Chinese traditional festivals are not well and fast developed than western festivals?

为什么现代的年轻人喜欢西方的节日，而不重视中国传统节日？

Why young people like western festivals instead of Chinese traditional festivals?

为什么现在的年轻人逐渐忘记了中国传统的重要性？

Why young people gradually forget the importance of Chinese traditions?

为什么现在的年轻人觉得工作比团圆更重要？

Why young people think jobs are more important than reunion?

现在怎么能让冬至节变得重要？

How can we make our Winter Solstice more important?

……

冬至诗文

the poetry of Winter Solstice

追根溯源，从冬至的由来与习俗开始，书写“冬至”，诗文阅读，仿写古诗，绘制团扇，插花祝福，孩子们看到不一样的风景，感受人间烟火的温暖，度一小段温润时光。

Traced to the source, Winter Solstice shows the way to celebrate which started from the traditions, like writing calligraphy, reading poetry, carrying out imitative writing of poetry, making round fans, trying the ikebana(art of flower arrangement). Children enjoyed the experiences and appreciate the bliss of life.

冬至探秘

Secrets exploring in Winter Solstice

从测量、计算、统计、寻找规律等角度出发，孩子们不仅探究了天体运行的规律和日晷、圭表测影法的工作原理，而且亲身体验制作了日晷和天体运行的轨道，领略了古人研究24节气的智慧与方法。

Children not only explored the movement of celestial bodies, principles of sundial and gnomon by measuring, calculating, statistics, and finding out rules, but also made a sundia and the track of celestial bodies, by which they were astonished by the wisdom of the ancestors.

冬至音乐

Winter Solstice Music

孩子们在了解中国古代民间音乐中的五声调式的基础上，将吟唱歌词、竖笛的吹奏、木琴乐队的音效融合在一起，用音乐体现冬至时节那种寒冬中的温暖氛围。

Based on the knowledge of the five cardinal channel modes in ancient Chinese folk music, children mixed the lyrics with the melodies, of recorder and xylophone together, feeling the charm of music and warm atmospherein this season.

冬至竞技

Winter solstice sports

将投壶、蹴鞠、瓦舍等南宋都市休闲体育活动带进课堂，孩子们了解了很长时间没有出现在大众的视野里的民间体育项目，不仅打开了眼界，更乐在其中。

With such traditional sports game as pitch-pot, Cuju, Vacher in South Song dynasty cities, children began to pay attention to the folk sports that have disappeared in modern life.

冬至绘画

Winter Solstice Painting

根据《梦梁录》中对南宋临安城里冬至节庆习俗的描写，运用线描，结合彩纸剪贴，分场景创作了拜天祭祖、街头嬉闹、互赠礼物、敬老纳福等南宋冬至的民俗生活画面，最后全班形成了一幅南宋临安城的冬至长卷，享受着文学意境和美术审美碰撞的乐趣。

According to the descriptions about winter solstice celebration in “ Meng liang Lu”, a book on the traditions and the customs Linan, the capital city of South Song dynasty, children tried to make one of the scenes of the traditional activities, like ancestor worship, street frolic, giving gifts, and respect the old and praying for the fortune. In the end, they were put together to restore the life in Linan.

冬至创作

Winter Solstice Creation

孩子们或化身未来的“IT工程师”，制成精美的PPT；或小组合作，共同创作冬至的主题学习海报，各展所长，图文并茂地展示了自己对冬至的理解。

Kids made awesome PPTs as future ‘ IT engineers’ in the computer lab. Furthermore, they got into groups to make colorful posters about Winter Solstice, which shows their own unique understandings of this festival.

冬至美食

Winter Solstice Food

“冬至节得吃饺子，要不然就会冻掉咱的耳朵”，听着古老传说，孩子们在大厨的带领下包起了饺子。起锅的饺子热气腾腾，浓郁的味道，全班围坐着一起吃饺子，吃出了无尽的幸福感。

‘ There is no better food than dumplings’. Having known many sayings about Winter Solstice Festival, this time all kids got the chance to make dumplings. The dumplings in the pot were steaming and full of good smell. The whole class sat together and enjoyed the dumplings made by themselves in such a happy moment.

中西比较

Comparison between China and western countries

“放眼全球，中外对比”，孩子们用双语探究了中外（中日韩）冬至习俗的异同，以及冬至和圣诞两大中西方节日的异同，通过学习报告的形式进行梳理。最后，创意剧“当冬至娃娃遇上圣诞老人”的编排和演绎，充分发挥了学生的创意和想象力，更深层次地感受了两大节日的不同魅力。

Kids inquired the customs of Winter Solstice Festival in different countries bilingually, especially making comparisons among China, Japan and Korea. They also focus on the similarities and differences between Winter Solstice Festival and Christmas and analyze them by finishing the report sheet. At last, kids created their own play— Winter Solstice doll meets across Santa Claus, which was full of imagination. Kids tended to feel the deeper beauty of the both festivals.

“冬至之问”之我见

My opinions on Winter Solstice

在一周的课程结束之时，孩子们对“冬至之问”有了一些自己的见解。有同学说：

“和冬至一样的中国传统节日总是过得严肃而庄重，而西方节日却总是非常有趣、好玩、轻松。”有的说：“这是有关信仰的问题，比如圣诞节与基督教有关，所以每年一定会过，而且过得隆重。”也有同学说：“虽然团圆很重要，但现在的工作分工要求年轻人有强烈的责任感，常常只能放弃团聚，留在自己的岗位上，服务他人。”更有的说：“我们应该给予每个人更多的自由和时间，参与到传统的节日中来。”……

不得不说，我们的孩子已开启了通往中国传统文化之门，走进了更深层次地思考。

After the whole week 24 Solar Terms Curriculum, kids have some their own understandings on Winter Solstice. Some said, ‘Some Chinese traditional festivals such as Winter Solstice Festival are too sacred, while many western festivals are more fun.’ Some said, ‘ Some western festivals such as Christmas are connected with their beliefs, so they are bound to celebrate it every year in a sacred way.’ Some said, ‘Many young people are restrained by their responsibilities on jobs so sometimes it’s hard to gather with family even on important days.’ Others said, ‘Everyone should be provided more time and freedom to participate in traditional festivals.’All in all, our kids have already been on the track of Chinese traditional culture and started to think in a deeper way.