Skip to main content
Community

Online Chinese health and wellbeing resources for Primary and Secondary School pupils

  • CalendarAvailable on request
  • Clock outlineFlexible
This is students in the Shaolin Temple in China practising Kung Fu. Image by Manfred Bieser from Pixabay

These resources have been brought together to support the fourth purpose of the Four Purposes of the New Curriculum for Wales.

It relates to children as ‘healthy, confident individuals ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society’ and focuses specifically on Chinese health and wellbeing. The resources can be used by both primary and secondary school teachers in their classrooms, or by individuals at home.

Chinese health and wellbeing

Eyes exercises

Chinese schools have been using eye exercises to help protect vision and prevent myopia since the 1960s. Children perform the five-minute exercises in class alongside music once or twice a day.

They are based on the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and said to stimulate the flow of energy or ‘qi’, relieving eye strain and aiding function.

In terms of Western medicine, the exercises increase blood circulation and relax muscles around the eyes, helping with fatigue in this area.

Resources

Children learn how to do three eye exercises using this YouTube video from China’s ‘King of Medicine’ Sun Simiao.

Song and dance routine

Teach your pupils to sing and dance like Chinese children with this song and dance routine. Once they know how to do it, they can practice together during break-time and even perform a talent show!

Resources

The Yin and Yang of Chinese food

The duality of Yin and Yang is one of the key principles of Chinese thought. Stemming from Taoist philosophy, this principle is embedded in many aspects of Chinese culture, so what does it mean when it comes to Chinese food?

When we talk about Yin and Yang we mean it in relative terms, and it is believed that everything has both yin and yang aspects. So how do Chinese people divide food into these two kinds? How is Yin and Yang philosophy applied to an authentic Chinese meal, to the balance of flavours, ingredients and cooking techniques? Why is it so important to maintain a balance of Yin and Yang in the diet?

Resources

Tai chi - Chinese martial art

Tai chi (or Tàijí quán in Chinese), also known as "Shadowboxing", is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for defence training, health benefits and meditation.

The term taiji is a Chinese cosmological concept for the flux of yin and yang, and 'quan' means fist.

Resources

Find out about more resources, classes and special events for children, visit Chinese in Schools and sign up to their newsletter.

About the organiser

This activity is organised by Cardiff Confucius Institute. Contact Victoria Ucele at ucelev@cardiff.ac.uk for more details.

How to book

These online resources are designed for primary, middle and secondary schoolteachers to use with their pupils in class. They can also be used by children independently, either by themselves or with others.

Emailconfucius@cardiff.ac.uk

TicketThis activity is free

GlobeAccess the activity resources online

Audience

  • TickTeachers
  • TickFamilies
  • TickFoundation - ages 3-7, foundation year and years 1 and 2
  • TickKey stage two - ages 7-11, years 3-6
  • TickKey stage three - ages 11-14, years 7-9
  • TickKey stage four - ages 14-16, years 10-11
  • TickKey stage five - ages 16-18, years 12-13

Teacher supervision is required.

Curriculum themes

  • TickHealth and wellbeing
  • TickHumanities
  • TickLanguages, literacy and communication
  • TickExtracurricular

Activity type

  • TickActivity
  • TickEvent
  • TickOnline resource

Purpose

  • TickSupporting curriculum themes

Share this event

Partners

  • Bangor University
  • Hanban
  • University of Wales Trinity Saint David