Rich Activities for 1st Day of New Semester

By Qian Jing and Ji Jiajun

Students in Hongkou began their new semester on September 1, when the “First Class” is launched on schools with themes ranging from humanity school, traditional culture to traffic safety, letting them bid farewell to summer holiday in various activities and welcome the new semester in relaxed and joyful mood.

Fun: experiencing school culture in games

“One generation dismisses another and each will rule its own domain for years to come.” At the Talent & Fun Land of Jiguang Senior High School, freshman Ni gave the correct answer in the poem and verse completion game and won an entry badge. On the first day, a humanity carnival fair was prepared for freshmen who joined in the game with a card in hand and would win a badge once passing a level. All of a sudden, Ni felt closer to classmates, teachers and the school after experiencing the humanity vibe in this way along with his new pals. At the Meteorology Corner, junior student Wang Ziyi was introducing the featured weather instrument shelters to freshmen with patience. Why is the exterior white? Does it require special location? All these questions aroused great interest in them and seized Wang Ziyi with the joy of sharing knowledge. She said: “The shelters knowledge is part of geography but can’t be acquired in class, so I learnt new knowledge in the meteorology club.”

“On children’s first day of school, we are supposed to allow them participate in learning in a selective way with experience and feelings acquired.” The principal said.

Inheritance: senior schoolmates showed traditional Chinese talents

The vibrant melody of Chinese zither reverberated at the auditorium of Hongkou Second Central Primary School, because the forth-grade students from ”Elegant Zither Society”, “Fresh Tea Society” and “Chinese Seal Society” were showing freshmen traditional arts of the “Compass Program”. They were enchanted by the zither, tea and sealing arts performance and thus developed a liking for traditional culture and arts.

“Our school is the first member of the ‘Compass Program’ in Hongkou and is committed to cultural inheritance, so we designed the activity series of traditional culture display on the first day of school. We believe freshmen can feel the dense traditional Chinese style after entering our school.” Principal Zheng Yan said.

Interaction: acquiring traffic safety knowledge in accident simulations

Safety knowledge is essential in the first class. Traffic policemen of Hongkou came to Guangling Road Primary School and gave pupils a vivid lesson on traffic safety. Unlike the past, this lesson was given in the playground instead of classroom. Some of the kids simulated traffic accidents by themselves while policemen played supporting parts and gave instructions.

At 8:30 am, at the playground, two students played the adult roles that used shared bicycles and caused a traffic accident for one rode against the traffic. Policemen taught two “parties involved” how to handle an accident site to avoid traffic jam and call the police and 120 for medical assistance.

Kids cheered with excitement when catching policemen riding on motorbikes and entering the playground “on mission”. They watched the simulations with attention and learnt quite a lot.

Besides, Chengzhong Junior High School invited offspring of former revolutionary soldiers and veterans to tell pupils stories of the Chinese revolution, focusing on the theme of “Build Willpower and Love Our Motherland”. Hongkou No. 6 Central Primary School conducted the “Support the Party and Grow Up Hand-in-hand” Activity. Private Xinhua Junior High School held the activity of “Military Songs Show Bravery”. The “First Class” Series presented pupils a different opening day with rich themes and wonderful contents.