In December, our first graders had a blast learning how to name parts of the body in Chinese. Through games, songs, and speaking activities, they got to know all about body parts. They also learned how to talk about different types of weather and share what kind of weather they like and dislike.

Our second graders spent some time revisiting the body parts vocabulary from first grade and expanded their knowledge with new words. They also learned color words and practiced saying their favorite colors in Chinese.

Third graders used their previously learned body parts vocabulary to express what hurts. They had a lot of fun with a doctor-patient role play activity for this unit.

Fourth graders dove into topics about clothing and shopping. They practiced shopping for clothes using sentence patterns and learned some basic vocabulary to talk about the cost of different items.

January was all about Chinese New Year for grades one through four. Our students learned about the traditions, customs, and stories that make this holiday so special. They discovered the Chinese Zodiac animals and the story of the monster named Nian. Students also received hong bao (red envelopes) from their Chinese teachers, experiencing an important tradition firsthand. In class, they made beautiful, bright-colored dragon projects with good luck words, gearing up for our annual Lunar New Year parade in each elementary school.

February was the grand finale with our fabulous Chinese New Year parades held in all four elementary schools. Fourth graders proudly marched through the hallways carrying dragons, lions, drums, ribbons, and fans, while the rest of the students enjoyed watching the parade, spreading good fortune all around!

This year, our students also had the awesome opportunity to participate in two events sponsored by the Plainview Chinese American Parents Association. First was a dragon poster contest, with one grade from each school invited to participate. The winner from each grade received a beautiful certificate and a $30 prize. Second was the Chinese New Year Gala on February 2, 2024, where 10 first graders from each school performed the Chinese song “Where Are My Friends?” Their performance showcased their musical talents and celebrated friendship and unity, earning applause and admiration from everyone at the Gala.

In February, first graders learned about school objects and places, making Valentine’s Day projects and learning how to say “I love you” in Chinese. Second graders learned the Chinese names of different community places, discussing the importance of Chinatown communities in America. This unit supported their Social Studies lessons about community. For Valentine’s Day, they learned a short poem to present to their families. Third graders learned about rooms in a house and enjoyed discovering the story of the Monkey King, a popular fictional character in China. Fourth graders focused on feeling words and community helpers, practicing vocabulary in sentences to express their emotions. They had fun with a Lego movie EdPuzzle and online word searches to explore these topics further.