Reggio experiences in Hong Kong—A touch of Chinese culture: The Sheung Wan story and Chinese Opera project

摘要

This paper reports two projects done by children in Hong Kong, adapting the Reggio experience to fit the local needs of the community and the children. As Carla Rinaldi said, children are constantly “in search of meaning, finding the sense and meaning of things we do” (Lee, 2001, p. 29). The first project documented how children of the Lee Wai Lee Kindergarten studied Chinese culture as seen in their neighbourhood, Sheung Wan — a vicinity maintaining a strong Chinese cultural characteristics. Students of the Higher Diploma in Child Care and Education and staff of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, worked collaboratively with the children and teachers, to explore the linkages of the past with the present way of life. They found out that the dim-sum baskets in the Tea Houses were made in Sheung Wan, and that dim sum baskets are for steaming food. In the mini-projects that followed, children created a “moving chair” to make walking uphill more comfortable and safe for grandma. Another group of children studied “Antiquity Street” and theorized on what is “Koo Tung” (Antiques). The Child Care student teachers and children partnership served two purposes. The former supported with documentation skills, acting and thinking with the children; while the latter theorized and discovered. Sergio Spaggiari said “the underlying concept of Reggio Emilia is the fact that education must be a social, community process. It is a pedagogy of relationships, with emphasis on thinking and building together in collaboration, and exalting the individuality” (Lee, 2001, p. 3). The two in solidarity, worked together to construct and to build knowledge. The second project reported on how a Chinese facial mask started the children in the Hong Kong Christian Services Child Care Centre in their investigation of Chinese Opera. A series of creative and artistic reflections led the chidlren to make facial masks, sketched their favorite actor/actress, and designed stage costumes. They enjoyed creating artifacts and seeing and participating in a performance of Chinese Opera. The intensity of the children’s interest in the project went beyond these expectations. Their imaginations were ‘fired up’ in part by their intuitive understanding that Chinese Opera is a unique expression and reflection of Chinese culture. This project had immense potential as a basis for both academic and creative learning. Both projects were documented by the Radio Television of Hong Kong for Educational Television of the Education and Manpower Bureau, were broadcasted on the Educational Television Channels in all primary and kindergartens in Hong Kong.