Young Artisan
June School Holiday Workshop Recap: The Secret World of Ants
This June holiday, our young learners went underground — into the fascinating world of ants, explored through Mandarin, science, and art.
What the children learned
Guided by our educator, children picked up key Mandarin vocabulary through themed flashcards and storytelling — 蚂蚁 (ant), 蚁巢 (ant nest), 蚁后 (queen ant), and 团队 (teamwork). They explored the full ant life cycle — egg, larva, pupa, adult — using realistic life-cycle models they could hold and examine up close.
What the children created
Learning came alive through hands-on making:
Clay ant sculptures — each child moulded their own ant, complete with head, thorax, abdomen, antennae, and six legs (some even carrying tiny clay strawberries back to the nest!)
Watercolour ant nest paintings — children sketched and painted their own underground colonies, mapping out tunnels, food chambers, and the queen's quarters
Character writing practice — reinforcing the new vocabulary with guided 汉字 tracing
Why it works
By combining language, science, and art in one theme, children don't just memorise words — they use them while observing, building, and creating. The result: vocabulary that sticks, and artwork they're proud to bring home.
