A Diverse & Connected World

Introduction: This action-packed excursion is the perfect way for students to learn how and why people choose to remember significant events. Students will identify global and national celebrations and commemorations through hands-on activities and explore the origins of these celebrations and the cultures from which they originated.

Activity 1: Guided China Town Tour: Our Rangers will lead students on an exciting adventure through Chinatown where they will explore traditional Asian architecture and how it has influenced the design of Chinatown in Sydney. Students will then explore the importance of the colour red, what it represents during the world’s largest celebration and then students will visit a variety of shops and restaurants in the district and learn about the importance of natural spaces in Asian cities.

Activity 2: Guided Chinese Garden of Friendship Tour: Our Rangers will lead students on an exciting adventure through the tranquil oasis of the Chinese Gardens of Friendship. Here students will feel the ultimate form of relaxation as they explore the peaceful gardens and meandering pathways constructed around traditional Eastern Asian architecture of pavilions and ponds. Using their birth year, students will discover the zodiac animal from Chinese astrology that matches their personality and learn about the origins and legends behind the animal characters that make up the zodiac. They find out which important characteristics their birth year and animal embody and learn how the Lunar New Year is celebrated.

Activity 3: Chinese Dragon Art and Crafts: The dragon dance is often performed during Chinese New Year. Chinese dragons are a symbol of China’s culture, and they are believed to bring good luck to people, therefore the longer the dragon is in the dance, the more luck it will bring to the community. The dragons are believed to possess qualities that include great power, dignity, fertility, wisdom and auspiciousness. In this activity, students will create their own unique dragon heads and participate in a dragon-dancing activity.

Introduction: This action-packed excursion is the perfect way for students to learn how and why people choose to remember significant events. Students will identify global and national celebrations and commemorations through hands-on activities and explore the origins of these celebrations and the cultures from which they originated.

Activity 1: Guided Walk through the Japanese Gardens: Students walk through a beautiful, Ryoan-ji style Japanese Garden which includes a Zen garden, a lake with ducks, geese and koi and a tea house. In the gardens, students learn about Japanese as Eastern Asian customs, symbols, beliefs, architecture, food, festivals and cultural way of life and discuss how these played an important role in shaping the multicultural diversity within Australia.

Activity 2: Guided Walk through Native Australian Bush and Rainforest: This walk boasts a Eucalyptus Woodland, an Australian Rainforest and an Animal Walkthrough. Here students are given the opportunity to explore these different environments and identify and discuss how this environment differs from or is similar to landscapes within our neighbouring Asian countries. Students will discuss how places, people and cultures differ across the world and identify how people’s connections to places affect their perception of them.

Activity 3: Chinese Dragon Art and Crafts: The dragon dance is often performed during Chinese New Year. Chinese dragons are a symbol of China’s culture, and they are believed to bring good luck to people, therefore the longer the dragon is in the dance, the more luck it will bring to the community. The dragons are believed to possess qualities that include great power, dignity, fertility, wisdom and auspiciousness. In this activity, students will create their own unique dragon heads and participate in a dragon-dancing activity.