China Day in Dagenham

By Keziah and Terri-Ann
School Reporters, Mayfield School, Dagenham, Essex

As part of China Day, Year 7 students tried a Karate routine set to music

Mayfield China Day was off to a soft, silent start with a smooth game of Chinese Whispers.

Set up by Miss Parker, it was a day of fun-filled activities that paid homage to the exciting, colourful, vibrant, and mystical sides of Chinese culture.

Mr Panesar's Maths class then began to make origami animals which consisted of a dog, cat and panda.

The panda was created with inspiration from Po, the bubbly, hysterical main character in the film Kung Fu Panda.

Some members of staff took a keen part, and stated it was harder than it looked.

Origami was, in some students' opinion, more entertaining that multiplication.

Chinese art

For second period, Ar3, an Art room, was off to a flying start by drawing a majestic Chinese dragon. Red in the Chinese culture is believed to be lucky.

One pupil said she enjoyed it and also stated: "I learnt to use different shapes to draw scales. I also found out about the story of the animals getting years named after them." She added: "Legend has it that the rat won because he cheated."

The teacher of the class, Mrs Morongiou, said: "The children enjoyed it and I even learnt something new."

Another teacher added: "The children reacted with a positive attitude and they do like it because they are doing something different and learning something new."

Martial arts to music

Year 7 fly-kicked into lesson 3 with karate accompanied by a music mix.

On China Day, a PE lesson had been transformed into a quick flick lesson in basic karate skill.

Janice Francis Erwin is a 3rd Dan black belt. She has competed in the sport for seven years and has actually been an international karate champion.

She said: "The music mix with karate made it less regimental and disciplined."

"Deri", which means kick, was one of the moves the Year 7's used. They also learned how to do a controlled punch without hurting themselves.

The students combined these moves into choreographed sequences and did them with music.

Mentoring

On China Day I had the opportunity to work with a Year 10 student, Keziah, who took part in BBC News School Report last year.

She said: "On China Day, as a Year 10, I was asked to mentor two Year 9's, to help them as they prepared a newspaper article about the day.

"I began the day by helping them take notes and prepare some questions they could ask students and teachers about China and the day.

"The day gave me the opportunity to share with them things I learnt doing the BBC School Report last year.

"I hope it helped them write an article on China Day and that they learnt some good tips!"