STArt: Chinese Traditions of Oregon

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Chinese Traditions of Oregon
Passing it On

There are many people in the Chinese community who are working hard to make sure their cultural traditions are passed on. These people are traditional artists, community leaders, teachers, families who teach their children the Chinese ways, and young people who choose to carry on the traditions.

It is sometimes a difficult decision for young Chinese Americans to keep their Chinese traditions. They may think the traditional ways are old-fashioned. Or they may feel their Chinese heritage makes them different or separate from friends and classmates.

It is important for everyone to remember that every cultural group has traditions and everyone is part of one or more cultural communities. Chinese American traditions are one piece in a cultural web that is a part of the heritage of all Oregonians.

Activities

Activity 1: Ask students to think or write a written response to the following questions:

What communities or folk groups are you a part of?

Who are the people in your community who are carrying on traditions?

Why do you think those traditions are important to your community?

Why is it important to be proud of your traditions? Why do they think someone would not be proud of their traditions?

How are these traditions being passed on to the next generation?

Activity 2: Have students create an exhibit about their ethnic and/or cultural traditions, complete with drawings or photos and label copy to display on the reverse side of the tabletop exhibit or in a public space in the school.

Activity 3: Assist students to plan and host a Cultural Festival for parents and the school community. This event requires extensive planning and coordination and might best be done as a cooperative effort between classes or with the help of parent volunteers. Successful Cultural Festivals have combined student demonstrations with presentations by artists and/or parents.

Activity 4: Self-publish a booklet on student interviews and writing, including recipes, photocopies of family photos, descriptions of festivals and the class celebrations calendar. Ask parents of bilingual students to contribute information about family/cultural traditions.

Activity 5: Have students create a newsletter reporting on their answers to the "Discussion Questions" (Student Magazine, p. 28). Have them interview students in other classes, and even teachers and staff. Make it a school-wide newsletter on traditions.

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