Fuyang Democracy School
FuYang school caters towards the kids of migrant families and low income households. During our visits, we have noticed the kids lack one on one care and attention due to the schools insufficient amount of teaching staff and the kids parents who work outside of the district to make a living. As student volunteers, we plan to engage with the kids both personally and as a group. In doing so, we hope that we can become "older" mentors/figures to the kids in case they need support. We want to ensure every kid is acknowledged and cared for. We are currently teaching two classes of 40 in year three aged 6-8. Throughout the day, we would split up into two groups and teach english and arts with instruments like xylophones, maracas, singing, and more. We also spend a lesson playing physical activities with kids that get them to collaborate and exercise. When we are not teaching, we try our best to interact with students of relatively younger grade levels. We hope our contributions to the Fuyang school community can create a more positive and light school environment.
Links Leader:
Elise Sze & Allen Liang (HZ11)
Cedric So (HZ10)
Aiden Howe (HZ8)
Alicia Tang (HZ7)
Hangzhou 11
March 20, 2024
In our quest to blend learning with memorable experiences, we decided to build upon last week’s success and provide more play-based learning. First, the air buzzed with excitement, a clear sign of the students' eagerness for a unique twist on 'Simon Says.' 'Chef Says' became our introduction to a world where verbs and nouns were not just simple vocabulary but actions filled with laughter as students tried to learn English words while making sure to follow the Chef’s instructions.
Next, as laughter and music filled the space, 'Hot Potato' took on a new life. An "imaginary potato," hot to the touch, danced from hand to hand. The sudden silence of music was a signal for a student holding the potato to quickly use the learned content, with the added intensity of everyone looking at them. We were delighted to see the students perform under pressure, while their friends cheered afterwards. We also decided to spill out the fun onto the playground, where we continued the same game but this time with modified rules to enhance active movement and coordination with a ball.
The highlight of our day was the food parade, a fresh take on the game of 'Red Light, Green Light.' Each child advanced with tiny eager steps, their eyes waiting with anticipation. At the call of a food item students froze, some mid-bite, others holding their feast with pride while others posed as a chosen food item. The whole group burst with laughter as they inched their way to the finish line.
We’re grateful that engagement was clear and learning happened in ways that brightened the students' day. We also were happy to experience the magic of learning through play and hope to continue bringing joy to their lives in future visits.
- Elise SzeMarch 13, 2024
Today was our second visit to Fuyang for the term. Our lesson this week focused on sports and outdoor activities in order to expand their vocabulary as well as to spark the students’ interests for sports. As per usual, we split up our group in 2 to teach the 2 different classes. We spent our first lesson in the classroom, teaching the students the names of 10 sports in English, and then consolidated their understanding and memory both individual and group competitions. Whoever had the right answer for the question received snacks as a reward, while the winner for the group competition got a whole bag of sweets for the group to share. We then played hangman, as the last time we did, the students enjoyed it very much.
For the second lesson, we managed to make up for the two previous weeks of not being able to do outdoor activities. We had different activities, each led by one CIS student. We had a football group, teaching them basic skills such as shooting and dribbling. Furthermore, we also had a relay match, in which most of the students participated in, while the rest of the students enjoyed several games of tag.
Overall, it was a well-planned lesson with activities that the students enjoyed, and we really look forward to our next visit.
- Allen LiangMarch 6, 2024
We engaged Fuyang School students in interactive learning by delivering a lesson focused on classroom objects. We started with a personalised game of Simon Says, sparking focused participation and laughter. To enhance engagement, suspenseful drum rolls were added, and crafting activities encouraged creativity and deeper understanding of object names. The novelty of the game caused huge laughter, which encouraged us to continue to be animated in our teaching. Surprisingly, a discussion on academic subjects eventually led to a spontaneous dance, revealing the students' unexpected hidden talents. We aimed to nurture these diverse interests and joyful environment, finishing in a fun paper aeroplane competition. Overall, the lesson was immensely enjoyable, and we eagerly anticipate our next visit.
- Elise SzeFebruary 28, 2024
Being our group's first visit to Fuyang for quite a while, we embarked filled with both excitement and nervousness. Based on our previous sessions, we have learned that the students loved receiving candy when they answered questions correctly, hence we went prepared with a whole backpack of QQ糖 and white rabbits. A very big shoutout to Elise and Yong house for spending their CNY decorations budget on creating stationary packs for the students, and we left school with both the candy and the stationery.
We decided to focus on items in the classroom as today’s topic main topic of teaching English. We first had a read through and explanation of each object bilingually, so the students have a clear understanding of which object is which. Then we moved onto a mini quiz, where we gave everyone a sheet of paper, and whoever could write down the English word they heard gets candy as a reward. After this quiz, we moved onto bingo with numbers, as Elise’s group has taught the students numbers 1-10 in English previously. They all enjoyed this activity a lot, and we could see it through their screams of happiness when they “bingoed”. To end off our time at the school, we played multiple games of hangman with the new words we taught this session, and distributed the stationary packs to every student. Overall, we had a great session like previous time and we are looking forward to our next visit.
- Allen LiangDecember 6, 2023
Our second visit to the school began with even more anticipation from the students. As we entered the classroom, their curious gazes and murmurs of excitement made it clear that our return was eagerly awaited. I could tell some of the children were excited to show off what they had learned last week and what animal words they already knew in English. Today's lesson focused on animals, a new topic we hoped would capture their interest. We started by translating their favourite animals into English, which got them even more excited as they were able to choose which animals they wanted to learn about. Then we moved on to a fun game of bingo to make the lesson interactive. The students were thrilled when we mentioned bingo because they find it really enjoyable and, as a bonus, they were also learning new English words. As each animal was called out, the room filled with excitement. The students eagerly searched their cards, hoping to find the corresponding animal. The game not only allowed them to practice their English vocabulary, but it also created a sense of camaraderie and friendly competition among them.
After the indoor activity, we moved outside for an interactive session of Animal Charades. Our outdoor session of Animal Charades began with us taking the lead and acting out various animals, much to the delight of the students. They gathered around us in a circle, their faces beaming with excitement as they watched and eagerly shouted out the answers in English. Laughter filled the air as we exaggerated our movements, sounds, and behaviours, captivating their attention and providing them with a visual representation of the information we taught indoors. After setting the tone with our animated performances, we encouraged the students to take turns acting out animals themselves. With enthusiasm, they embraced the challenge, imitating the characteristic traits of different creatures. Their classmates eagerly guessed the animals and applauded their efforts. This interactive experience not only sparked their creativity but also helped them expand their English vocabulary as they learned new words associated with each animal. It was inspiring to see their communication skills flourish and witness their growing understanding of various animal species. The combination of our initial performances and their active participation created a dynamic and engaging atmosphere that facilitated their language learning journey.
The day concluded with smiles and a sense of accomplishment, as the students left with newfound knowledge and improved language skills.
- Miya Ruijs
November 22, 2023
As our team approached the school building, an air of excitement was unmistakable. Through the windows, curious faces of third graders peered out, their voices ringing with anticipation, announcing our arrival. Our mission was: to teach these young learners about numbers, a challenge given their still growing English skills.
Our first encounter in the classroom revealed a shy group, similar to our previous visit. Even though they were initially hesitant to participate in our questions, the atmosphere somewhat shifted as we introduced a game of bingo. The strategy was to increase their confidence, ensuring each student experienced the triumph of a bingo win, complete with the joy of calling it out. While some students eagerly raised their hands, others held back, showing us the diversity in their comfort levels. We look forward to continuing to improve the level of comfort that they have with us during educational activities.
The day took an even more lively turn when we moved outside for hopscotch. I experienced about thirty enthusiastic students crowded around me after I invited them to draw the hopscotch board. This moment was particularly touching, showcasing their engagement and willingness to dive into new activities. This filled me with hope, as I look forward to their level of comfort increasing with each visit.
Reflecting on the day, it’s encouraging to see the positive response from the students to our interactive and fun learning approach. Their excited participation and the smiles on their faces marked the day as a success, reminding us of the joy and impact of the educational experiences that we planned with care.
- Elise SzeNovember 15, 2023
When we arrived at Fuyang Democracy School, we immediately felt so delighted as the first thing we heard were Fuyang students shouting “They’re here!” with excitement and joy. It was such a heartwarming experience right from the start to the beginning. As per the request of the school principal and teachers, we started off the session with reviewing the 26 alphabets as we slowly progress to teach them more and more English. We went through each alphabet and gave them words and objects that started with each letter, we had them to read and repeat after us so they could remember these words better. Some examples were jam & juice, king & queen, and xylophone. This process took us 1 out of the 3 lessons we had in Fuyang (40 mins), which went as planned as we know that they have just started learning English, and it would be hard for them to memorize.
We spent most of the 2nd lesson outside the classroom and played physical activities with the Fuyang students on the field. We first started off with duck, duck, goose, as everyone knew how to play, and they seemed to enjoy it. Every person who gets tagged has to say an English word we taught them during lesson 1. We then moved onto some of the activities and games the Fuyang students usually play, such as racing, hide & seek, tag, and we even had a long jump competition with their sandpit! Both us and Fuyang students were fully engaged in these activities, and it created such a fun and unforgettable memory.
In lesson 3, we went back into the classroom and taught them their first English sentence: “I have a jar of jam.” We handed out paper and asked them to copy it down onto their paper. We walked around giving out candies and snacks to students who had the sentence down correctly and helped with the ones who didn’t. During this time, we also taught them our English names, however with a fun reason, Jeremy’s name has become Sarah and a new meme had emerged :D
Overall it was a truly enjoyable experience and the pride and joy we felt during the process of teaching them and seeing tears drop when we left touched each and every one of us’ hearts, it was an absolute unforgettable experience.
- Allen Liang
September 27, 2023
We sat in the waiting room, eagerly awaiting the start of the sessions. Children were curiously peeking through the window, their smiles and waves radiating warmth and happiness. Today’s objective was to build relationships with the students, understand their knowledge levels, and explore ways to enhance their learning experiences.
The day’s activities focused on introductions to English and team-building exercises. We introduced basic English greetings and engaged the students with a sing along video. Additionally, outdoor activities allowed them to learn while staying active. For example, we taught them colors and then had them find the corresponding colors in groups. Playing charades was another delightful activity, where we taught them common vocabulary and let them act it out.
Seeing numerous hands shoot up when we asked for volunteers was uplifting. The students were thoroughly engaged and displayed a keen interest in learning.
However, we observed that many were hesitant and seemed afraid of making mistakes. Their responses, although correct, were often whispered, hinting at a fear of being wrong. In future sessions, it would be beneficial to introduce the concept of a growth mindset and stress the importance of learning from mistakes. Emphasizing that errors are a natural part of learning that can help in building their confidence.
Incorporating activities that utilize our senses can also enhance the learning experience, making it more interactive and engaging for the students. By fostering an environment where students feel comfortable and are encouraged to participate openly, we can further support their learning journey and make the experience more enjoyable for them.
Moving forward, we look forward to every chance to return, hopeful that every visit will bring new opportunities to learn and grow together, creating a nurturing space where every child feels valued and inspired to reach their fullest potential!
- Elise Sze
September 20, 2023
Our first trip to the Fuyang Links has been a very enjoyable experience for both us CIS students and the Fuyang students, which was evident as both student bodies were filled with joy by the end of the visit. At the beginning, we first had a small meeting with the principal and one of their teachers, and got some basic information on how the students aren’t as privileged as others, but instead their strengths are mainly focused on self-management and taking care of themselves at the age of 9 and 10 without their parents who are busy at work. Our class soon begun after the meeting. We had multiple indoor and outdoor activities such as charades, red light green light, and we eventually ended up with a drawing activity in the classroom to cool down. At the start, some students were still a bit shy, but after some time of being together, we could spot joy and smiles all over the classroom. Most of the kids were very fun to play with, and we believe that we have made very good first impressions. It has been such a heartwarming experience and our whole group looks forward to seeing them again in October.
- Allen Liang
Hangzhou 10
March 22, 2023
This was our last links going to the school, so our objective was to have as much fun as possible. Our day consisted of two main activities, and we started with a big science experiment that had all students doing hands on activities to get all of the materials in the correct places. The mixture of vinegar and baking soda proved to be a bit messy and not all groups succeeded, but we quickly helped them to limit the mess and get them to restart. We moved outside and we facilitated the latter parts of the experiment where when you take the cap off the bottle, the contents inside would shoot out. We got the kids to stand at a safe distance, and although we got a bit wet, the kids were very excited to see the ending reaction.
Afterwards we gave them a small break outside, while we had to perform manual labour to retrieve buckets of water and mix in dye to create water that the students could soak their fabric into. It was quite messy and chaotic having so many things happening at once, but we managed to finish set up and we taught them how to tie their own fabric with elastic bands, which made everyone had unique patterns. Then came the last part of soaking it in the dyed water, and we got everyone to dry it.
It’s been really a fantastic experience teaching and watching over these kids, and even though during the first semester we barely went because of COVID, we established an incredible bond with the people there, and it made this last trip so so so much more memorable. In the last few minutes we gave everyone gifts and food, and took photos with the banner the school kindly made for us. In the end links seems less about necessarily doing things or helping larger issues, but perhaps it’s more about how much of an impact we make on other people, which is something we heavily underestimated to begin with. Thanks to everyone, teachers, CM’s and my group.
- Cedric So
March 15, 2023
For our second last links, we crafted activities revolving around balloon and we wanted to have fun with them as our time was coming to an end. We taught all of them how to blow balloons and got them to release the balloon on ropes so it wouldn’t go everywhere, and we had a mini-competition to see whose balloon went the further. We also did multiple experiments on how balloons can traverse both horizontally and vertically on ropes. As traversing vertically required a significant amount of force, we got 3 balloons and stuck them together to add more thrust, allowing it to go upwards against the force of gravity!.We also explained to them on how pressure works, and how there was pressure outside of the balloon pushing in, making the air rush out to even out the pressure. We gave them more examples of this, but they were pretty smart and knew things like eggs expanding in microwaves, which made the whole process a lot smoother.
- Amboise Hui
March 1, 2023
Today was our toughest day so far at the school, as this time we brought lots of materials to make our ambitious plans work, but required a lot of work to prepare. Our idea revolved around eggs and other materials so it could survive a fall from a floor up, however we weren’t sure if the students there would understand the concept, much less expect them to be able to carry out the project. But all the students surprised all of us by showing massive knowledge of how to build it, and each individual group had different designs that looked really promising. We ended up letting each group drop their creations off the balcony and the majority of them survived with the egg perfectly fine! Although some eggs did break, we came prepared and already anticipated that would happen and laid out a tarp, so it was easy to clean up. It was a really fun day overall and we look forward to going again in two weeks.
- Cedric So
February 22, 2023
Our second time back to the school was a big success, barring some last minute changes. We originally had some plans and activities we would do, however it failed when we tested them, so it was a scramble trying to figure out how we could find alternatives. Eventually we came up with last minute activities that turned out to be great.
We got there and once again was welcomed warmly again by the students. We began by teaching them basics about animals, and slowly advancing the activities as they began to get comfortable with the material, while the other class taught basic english through interactive activities. Halfway through, we swapped classes, so that way everyone had all opportunities to learn everything there was to know. It ended up a great day filled with many exciting moments.
- Cedric So
February 15, 2023
Considering that there wasn’t a sudden cancellation on us, I think going to the school itself was already a major success. As we arrived, we were still passionately greeted by the students as always.. The school has a strict studying timetable, and as perhaps we were the only outsiders they can meet, the students were ecstatic to see us,
All of the children were very excited, and we started to do a teambuilding activity that included ping pong balls and paper to create a ramp so the ball would roll from one side to the other. Although it was very chaotic, many of the groups succeeded and both us and the students were very proud of their work. It was very interesting to see how all the groups had different approaches to this, and although some groups initially struggled, they ended up improving their ramp after taking inspiration from others and us.
After their break, we proceeded to teach them how to make paper airplanes. Some students already knew how to make different types of airplanes, and the lesson became a workshop, where the students were free to try different types of builds. We ended up letting them go outside to the playground to test out their newly made builds.
Really looking forward to next week where we try many different things with them.
- Cedric So
November 16, 2022
Today was our second visit to the Fuyang school, and we welcome Bruce and Thomas to our group. We were so much better prepared this time around, as preparing our own items to bring our style of learning to the children. We spent the first 30 minutes chatting with some of the teachers, and everyone there were super helpful, willing to help us in any way possible. We also used that time to prepare and set up our activities ahead of time, so we wouldn’t be standing awkwardly while figuring out what materials go with what.
After that we split our group up to sustain 2 different classes, and one class went outside to play dodgeball, and it was really chaotic, but you could tell everyone was having fun. The other class would do the classic marshmallow and spaghetti challenge, and even though they had trouble grasping the concept at first, some where actually able to complete the challenge, which was fun to watch, and we split up the rest of the food we brought.
Overall, it was a really good session with them.
- Cedric SoNovember 9, 2022
After a month of waiting, we finally got our first chance to go to the school and meet everyone there, and it was really exciting to see all the children pointing at us, wondering who we were.i
First, we were drafted into a volleyball game, where we paired up with the students, and practiced with, before we played a friendly game. All of the student were super enthusiastic and hyper-competitive, and tried their best to win.
After that we were brought in to an office room, where we discussed with the principal and board about our future plans, and a little bit about their culture, and gave us complete control over a class. Though we had not set up a proper plan for that day, we were still able to organize half the class into one half singing and dancing indoors, and the other half outside to do activities. Anything we suggested to do were met with excitement from the students, and made the trip really enjoyable.
Overall, it was a good trip to understand how their school operates, and how we can introduce segments of our own learning style to introduce them to something new.
- Cedric So
Hangzhou 9
April 13, 2022
On Wednesday, I had the incredible opportunity to phone in with the third grade class of the Fuyang Democracy School. Due to the current covid situation and the restrictions, we haven't been able to go to Fuyang to start links so far. Since my E2I project seemed to match the purpose of the Fuyang links group, I decided to contact the teachers there to organize a partnership to continue to interact with their students. Their teacher asked me if I could teach them some English so I crafted a lesson plan for the class.
In the first 5 minutes of the class, I already felt welcomed by the students' excited smiles and waves. The students in the class approached the lesson with lots of enthusiasm and were very eager to participate and ask different questions. During the lesson, we both shared parts of our everyday activities and drew similarities in our daily lives. The students also showed me one of the songs they had been practicing in music class.
Although it was certainly challenging to assess their English level through a call, I was glad that the lesson plans were flexible and that I got some advice from the previous links leaders. The student's contagious energy undoubtedly made teaching them truly a joy.
- Caitlyn Tang
Hangzhou 8
May 26, 2021
Our final day was a great success. Before the week, we had purchased all necessary resources and materials for painting and building our “risky play” playground.
After we got all the tires, blocks, ladders, hurdles, etc to the playground location, we started lessons with the children and ran games with them. After we demonstrated to them the playground’s versatility and how they can use their creativity to make their own playground, we gave them free rein to play. They made obstacle courses, tire rolling races, throwing games, and proved to us the power of this philosophy. As one class was playing games outside, another class was rehearsing dance choreography made by Gloria paired with a song for their performance at the end of the school year.
For our next lesson, we played some communication games with the class. We split them into 3 groups, and had them organize themselves by names, age, height, etc while standing on chairs. Lastly, as the kids went back into their classrooms and the thunderstorm began to roll around, we painted the tires for our playground, by first scrubbing each tire clean, then painting each strip of the tire.
In the short span of 3 trips and many hours of planning, I’m very proud of our links group and what was able to be accomplished. While we weren’t able to complete all 3 of the goals, we’ve set up the blueprint for continued connections and community service opportunities in Fuyang and I’m excited to see what future Links leaders can do next.
- Aiden Howe
May 19, 2021
This session was extremely productive and put us further one step towards all three of our goals: establishing a library, a playground, and a mural. Before today’s session we asked all the children in one classroom to bring one of their favourite books to stock up the library, and we also bought some english books of our own that would match their reading level. We built the bookshelves and organized a check in - check out system so books don’t go unaccounted for. We also had a discussion with the principal about funding for the mural and what the mural will look like.
As for lessons, we spent the first 2 teaching rhythm games and english lessons (specifically animals and habitats), and the next lesson we did a collaborative memory lego-building game; where the class split into groups of 6 and had to rebuild a lego structure based on memory and teamwork. Lastly, to help with one of their school performances, some of us helped to choreograph a dance and movements for the children paired with their song. Overall today has been insightful and we are taking huge strides to complete our 3 goals.
- Aiden Howe
April 21, 2021
Our first day at Fuyang was very eventful. After talking to the principal, we taught two year three classes aged 8-10. One group led music lessons, with xylophones, maracas, triangles, and guiros. Another taught english, mostly new vocabulary with food and animals. All the students were extremely curious and polite, and had a large love for learning. They were so respectful and inquiring that they asked for autographs!
During our break we taught them to fold paper airplanes and little hearts, and had a friendly competition to see who could throw their plane the farthest. We then went out into their basketball court and began to play games with all the students like musical chairs and “What’s the time Mr.Wolf”.
Overall, it was a great first trip. With the limited time we got due to scheduling we got to really meet and get to know some of the children and even learn some of their names. I’m looking forward to going back again and taking this project even further.
- Aiden Howe
Hangzhou 7
December 3, 2019
During this week’s Link’s session, we explored a different form of teaching by combining the two classes of students. We decided to assign them a teamwork activity involving collaboration and strategic thinking. The students were separated into groups of 4-5 and were given raw spaghetti and marshmallows. The ultimate goal of the competition is to make the highest structure out of the materials provided. With this in mind, the kids were extremely motivated and all tried their best to win the prizes we bought beforehand.
Overall, this week’s session was a booming success and we look forward to returning in February.
~Alicia Z
November 26, 2019
During this visit, we had the opportunity to teach more English to the students of Fuyang Democracy School. Our singing and dancing group continued working on the dance we began teaching last time for the song “Count on Me”. The class had a fun time reviewing previously learnt vocabulary as well as learning new words for the dance.
The sports group were also very successful as the students developed a deeper understanding of different ball sports through today’s class. They played Capture the Flag as a warm-up, continued with games of basketball and netball, and learned simple sentence structures in English.
We now have gotten to know all our students and have become familiar with them through the two classes we have had. We believe that the students have improved their English profusely and we have become more motivated to help them grow throughout this journey.
~Alicia ZOctober 29, 2019
During this week’s visit, we taught the students at Fuyang Democracy School for the first time. Beforehand, we split into one group for sports and another for music and dance, leading two different classes of the 4th grade.
Our sports group led the students with different drills and activities involving volleyball, football, basketball, and netball. The class was held on the field and all of the students had lots of fun while playing sports they’ve never played before.
Our music and dance group stayed inside the classroom, helping students learn new vocabulary in English and a simple song. We also incorporated easy dance movements that they did along with the chorus of the song.
Overall, we enjoyed teaching the kids and it was an amazing experience.
~Alicia ZOctober 8, 2019
During our second visit to Fuyang Democracy school, we continued to learn more about the school and how we should help the students in the near future. The teachers explained the details of each class and how we would start holding classes during the next act.
Our goal for this trip was to discuss teaching groups and other activities we could do before class to help the school. Because the students have normal classes in the morning, we will not be able to teach and instead will decorate the school or attend classes to grasp a better understanding of what students are currently learning in English. As our visit came to an end, we met a couple more classes of students we would be teaching and introduced ourselves.
Overall, we gained a lot from this week’s trip to the school and are now working towards developing efficient and interesting classes for the students.
~Alicia ZSeptember 24, 2019
Today we visited Fuyang Democracy School for the first time after much anticipation and excitement. The purpose of this outing is to get to know the staff and students and what the school’s expectations are.
During our trip to FuYang Democracy School, both the teachers and students were very welcoming towards our arrival. They invited us to discuss our lesson plans in one of the offices in the school building.
We had the opportunity to learn more about the students’ daily lives at school and how we can improve their learning experience by teaching them new subjects like dance and netball. We also had the chance to learn about what the staff expects from our lessons and the schedule of their school days.When discussing with the principal and other staff, we focused on how we could utilize our existing talents to teach the students as well as how we would divide ourselves into teaching groups.
Overall, we had a great time exploring the school and figuring out how we are going to teach the students. We will not visit the school again until Act 2, but we are looking forward to our first lessons in October.
~Alicia Z