Have you ever wanted to walk the world in just one day? Have you ever wanted to be able to travel freely between cultures and talk to people from all over the world? Have you ever thought that one day you would be able to use your own power to change the world? Escape the confines of distance and time difference, break the boundaries of geography and culture.
Join us in reliving the first World Culture Day at Ardingly College Zhongshan(Kindergarten)!
On 26 April, Ardingly College Zhongshan(Kindergarten) celebrated its first World Culture Day. We celebrated six countries from five continents around the world that are rich in language, food, art and flavour, and condensed the cultural and geographical information of each country to fit a whole world into one small campus.
Armed with the passports they made in class, the children set off on a journey to explore the world!
As a country that once ruled half the world, England has a rich and varied history and a diverse cultural identity. On the red double-decker bus in London, the children were guided by Ms. Emma to explore English highlights.
The sacred Royal Guards (Beefeaters) forming a unique cultural experience, the fierce sport of football brining its unique charm, the London Bridge that was "built on site", and a taste of what was known as "Britain's life-saving dish" during World War II.
Arriving in Australia, children's exploration is instantly enhanced by the abundance of animals. Here they can compete with kangaroos, race with emus, play with koalas, and make new friends with platypus and echidnas that they have never seen before.
Of course, in addition to the exciting world of animals, the children were also treated to a unique human experience. Mr. John who is from Australia brought the local children's favourite snack "Fairy Bread", and the children were able to experience the traditional hunting tool of the Aborigines, the boomerang.
'Colombia is inherently rich in natural resources, including the world's largest reserves of emeralds and the highest exports of coffee and bananas in the world!' Mr. Billy proudly introduced his country to the children.
His descriptions of the region, climate and culture, and his live presentation of the local cuisine and unique dances made Colombia one of the "most visited" tourist destinations at the event.
The South Africa Stop was the only stop on the third floor of the Kindergarten, and is designed to showcase the country's enthusiasm and openness.
Ms. Valerie, who is from South Africa, started the day with an enthusiastic African drum performance to enhance students curiosity and exploration, before leading the children to the vast African savannah in search of South African wildlife. The incorporation of special snacks and arts such as Vetkoeke also empowered the children's overall literacy.
With its gold, red, and blue onyx, the brightly coloured Indian elephant was a highlight of this stop. Accompanying the elephant the children explored the ancient mysteries of the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort, the Golden Temple and the Red Fort Delhi ...... The gilded complexes also enhanced the children's knowledge of the world.
In one corner of the India Stop, there was also a not-to-be-missed art event. Taking inspiration from the Diwali festival, the teachers created a Diwali Colour wall, where children were able to showcase their artistic talents on an entire wall.
As the grand finale, the China stop brought together some of the spectacular human feats from the more than 5,000 years of history. These included a display of the 54 ethnic groups and the most common 100 names in China, an intangible part of cultural heritage, tie-dye, the national sport 'table tennis' and the story-filled sport of archery, students were able to snack on ice fruits, and look at the large and creative map of China.
The children were able to appreciate the depth of Chinese culture, and through their own knowledge of the ethnic groups, they were able to draw a vivid picture and take on the responsibility of spreading Chinese culture around the world.
Charity Bazaar & Food Bazaar
Combining the exotic flavours of the six countries, the Kindergarten also worked with the PSG members to create a lively Charity Bazaar & Food Bazaar. The bazaar, which included stalls of books, toys, crafts, food and clothing, also provided a more diverse opportunity for the children to explore.
At Ardingly College Zhongshan(Kindergarten), children are always encouraged to get involved in the challenges facing the world today as a way of developing their leadership, empathy and global thinking.
For this World Culture Day, the kindergarten has partnered with UNICEF to raise funds by exchanging coins for charity, allowing the children to embrace social and global issues and causes and to raise awareness for disadvantaged children around the world.
*The money raised will be counted under the supervision of the PSG and will be used for UNICEF projects.
The 3-hour adventure was a wonderful encounter with the world for the kindergarten children. As they embraced the foreign landscapes, we could see their eyes widening, their self-confidence growing, and their determination to use their power to change the world. We can't help but look forward to what such a group of children can do for us in the future.
