Gina Ali, Lower School Music

Last week in kindergarten through second-grade music, we learned about Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, and more specifically, traditional lion dancing. Music plays a role of great importance throughout the New Year celebration, but is an essential part of the lion dance. Through video, music, art, and hands-on experience the students learned about traditional Chinese lion dancing and the role of music and rhythm in this tradition.

After reading the book, Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year by Kate Waters and Madeline Slovenz-Low, students gained the necessary background information needed for the rest of the lesson. They learned why the lion dance is so important, what instruments are used, and about the people inside the lion. Students loved sharing their own experiences with Chinese New Year and their own family's traditions. It was great to hear how families celebrated differently, and students seemed proud to share their family connections and personal experiences. Students were surprised to hear my own connection to the Chinese New Year. As a life long kung-fu student, my husband is an experienced lion dancer and is part of the yearly festivities in San Francisco's Chinatown. To take our experience further, students then watched a short video of his performances. Before watching, students learned which drumbeats indicate particular movements for the lion to perform.They loved anticipating his move as they recognized the beats! 

Of course the highlight of the entire lesson had to be the end where kids got a chance to go inside a real lion head. As they pulled the strings for the eyes and ears another student played the tail. The kindergartners even made their own red envelopes for our classroom lions to eat.