Chinese Playgroup #1 🏡♥
Last Saturday was our first Chinese playgroup. We're two* semi-fluent families with a fifth grader, a fourth grader, a second grader and a kindergartner. The kids stayed engaged for 40+ minutes; all in all, it went well.
We started with the song 我的朋友在哪里 (Where is My Friend?). I've taught this song (first verse only) to two different co-op preschool groups; it's repetitive and very easy to learn. Plus, "一二三四五六七" is one of the first things kids learn when they learn Chinese.
( 我的朋友在哪里 )
Next, we introduced ourselves (even though we already know one another) with a simple "我叫NAME. 我AGE岁."
Afterward, we had a super brief show-and-tell where the kids bring an item from home and say "这是OBJECT." ( Show and tell )
Next, we did a hand & foot radical activity. I showed them what 手 and 足 look like as radicals. I haven't set up the activity yet, so V led the group while I put up post-its at random on the wall. She asked them what their favorite colors are.
( Radical activity )
* I was inspired by this MultilingualChildren article that says, "Fewer than three is not really a group, but go ahead and start anyhow!"
Plans for next playgroup, which happens to be on the weekend of Dragon Boat Festival:
( Plans for Playgroup #2 )
We started with the song 我的朋友在哪里 (Where is My Friend?). I've taught this song (first verse only) to two different co-op preschool groups; it's repetitive and very easy to learn. Plus, "一二三四五六七" is one of the first things kids learn when they learn Chinese.
( 我的朋友在哪里 )
Next, we introduced ourselves (even though we already know one another) with a simple "我叫NAME. 我AGE岁."
Afterward, we had a super brief show-and-tell where the kids bring an item from home and say "这是OBJECT." ( Show and tell )
Next, we did a hand & foot radical activity. I showed them what 手 and 足 look like as radicals. I haven't set up the activity yet, so V led the group while I put up post-its at random on the wall. She asked them what their favorite colors are.
( Radical activity )
* I was inspired by this MultilingualChildren article that says, "Fewer than three is not really a group, but go ahead and start anyhow!"
Plans for next playgroup, which happens to be on the weekend of Dragon Boat Festival:
( Plans for Playgroup #2 )