Children enjoyed a range of crafts, music and storytelling at the Heath Robinson Museum’s Chinese New Year event on 22nd January to celebrate the forthcoming Year of the Rooster.
Volunteers encouraged the children to make Rooster puppets and carp kites, as well as to identify their Chinese Zodiac sign and write the Chinese character for it. Storyteller Claudia Mernick told a story about how Jade Emperor allowed the Rooster to become a Zodiac sign. Children watched shadow puppet films and learned to say simple Chinese words. They practised the Chopstick Challenge and listened to Purcell School student Tristan Vermeulen playing the hulusi, a tradition Chinese woodwind instrument which they then tried out themselves.
This is what parents and children had to say about the event:
“The event was really good and well organised”
“The calligraphy helped with a school project”
“I like that calligraphy because you got the chance to writing Chinese”
“The craft activities were really exciting, the story also very interesting”
“Staff/volunteers were great. Extremely helpful and friendly. The activities were excellent. My girls had fun with the crafts and the chopstick challenge.”
The Museum runs regular creative sessions for Under-5s on Monday mornings with Nadja Köllich. At February half term there is Glass Painting with Jackie Putt, and Interactive Storytelling based on Hans Christian Andersen with Rachel Rose Reid. Book on the website:
