Hello from Chinese

🎉 Happy New Year and welcome back to a new term! To celebrate our return and deepen our understanding of Chinese culture, our Grade 3-6 students have been participating in a special hands-on activity—making dumplings (饺子, jiǎo zi)!

🥟 Dumpling Making – A Chinese New Year Tradition

As part of our Chinese New Year celebrations, students had the opportunity to learn about traditional Chinese food and customs by making dumplings. In Chinese culture, dumplings are more than just a delicious dish—they are a symbol of family reunion, good fortune, and prosperity. They are commonly eaten during Chinese New Year’s Eve as families gather together to welcome the new year.

Through this activity, students:

✅ Explored the meaning behind dumplings and their role in Chinese New Year celebrations.

✅ Practiced shaping, filling, and folding dumplings, just like families do in China during the holiday.

✅ Engaged in teamwork, as making dumplings is a social and festive activity enjoyed by many.

✅ Tasted their handmade dumplings, experiencing firsthand a traditional New Year’s dish.

It was heartwarming to see students excited, engaged, and curious about Chinese culture. Many even expressed interest in making dumplings at home—so don’t be surprised if they ask to cook with you!

🏮 Learning Beyond the Kitchen

In addition to making dumplings, we will continue to explore Chinese New Year traditions, including:

🔴 The importance of red decorations and the character 福 (fú) for good fortune.

🧧 The meaning of red envelopes (红包, hóng bāo).

🐉 The story behind Chinese zodiac animals and New Year celebrations.

Here's some pictures of students making dumplings in the classroom and a short video of students making dumplings: