As part of the stunning start for the Unit of Enquiry, Beyond the Great Wall, Year 6 have enjoyed a creative Chinese Arts Workshop. The girls have made traditional Chinese paper cuts, lanterns, slat books and shadow puppets.

The girls researched the use of Chinese calligraphy characters used in slat books. The slat book was the first kind of Chinese book made from slats of wood or bamboo, tied together with cord. This type of book is the reason that traditional Chinese writing is done from top to
bottom, rather than from left to right like Western writing. The writing these days can be vertical or horizontal.

The girls have used their creative skills learning Jian Zhi, the art of paper cutting, which is given as a gift and regarded as lucky. The girls created beautiful designs using red paper. Collaborative skills were used to write a shadow puppet play based on the style of traditional tales.

The girls made puppets, intricately cutting out the designs. Next week they will perform their shows.

It has been an exciting start to the Spring Term. We are also looking forward to the Chinese Lion Dance Workshop, which takes place on Monday 29th January.

View photos of their creative designs here.