Latvian’s Montessori Elementary School Held a “Dumplings Making, Celebrating the Spring Festival” Activity
当地时间2月20日下午，蒙特梭利探索学校的汉语教室内飘散着一阵饺子香，年仅十岁左右的汉语初级班小朋友们和汉语教师刘梦珂一起，通过包饺子这一生动有趣的方式欢庆狗年新年的到来。
在正式体验包饺子前，汉语老师先耐心地向孩子们讲解了饺子对中国人的特殊寓意和文化内涵。饺子是中国人除夕夜必不可少的食物。中国人相信吃饺子可以祛除旧年的坏运气，给新的一年一个全新的开始。饺子的形状也象征着来年的富裕和福气。在传统的中国节日，尤其是农历新年，中国人一家人都会聚在一起包饺子、吃饺子，是春节最快乐的时光之一。
在介绍了包饺子的原料和制作方法之后，小朋友们便兴致勃勃地开始了包饺子的体验活动，汉语教师和孩子们幸福地围坐在一起擀饺子皮，包饺子。在汉语老师的指导下，孩子们认真地学着包饺子，仔细地放馅，轻轻地捻饺子皮，小心翼翼地将一个个奇趣可爱，形状各异的创意水饺捧在手中。当一锅锅香喷喷的饺子煮好后，小朋友们争相品尝，并翘起大拇指连连称赞：“好吃，好吃！”
活动结束后，汉语教室里仍是欢声笑语一片，短暂的一个下午，孩子们不仅体验到了包饺子的乐趣，更感受到了中华文化的独特魅力。
Local time on February 20th afternoon, in the Chinese classroom of Montessori Elementary School, there is a smell of dumplings, while the primary Chinese children around the age of ten, together with the Chinese teacher Liu Mengke, celebrated the arrival of the Year of the Dog through the vivid and interesting way of making dumplings.
Before experiencing making dumplings formally, Chinese teacher explained the dumplings’ special moral and cultural connotations to Chinese people with the children patiently. Dumplings are the most important dish on Chinese New Year’s Eve. Chinese people believe to get rid of last year’s bad luck by eating dumplings. Moreover, it shall enable a fresh start full of wealth and good luck in the next year. During traditional Chinese festivals, especially the Chinese Spring Festival, it’s a lot fun to cook dumplings together with family members and friends.
After introducing the materials and making methods of dumplings, the children started the dumpling making experience with great joy. Chinese teacher and children sitting together to make the dumpling wrappers and dumplings happily. Under the guidance of the Chinese teacher, children learn how to make dumplings carefully, put the dumpling fillings patiently, twist the dumplings gently, and carefully hold the creative dumplings of all sorts, which are very interesting and different in shape. When a pot of fragrant dumplings cooked, the children competing to taste, and thumbs up praised: “delicious, delicious!” repeatedly.
After the activity, the Chinese classroom is still a laughter. During a short afternoon, the children not only experienced the fun of dumpling, but also felt the unique charm of Chinese culture.
