Chinese calligraphy
You’ll need
- A4 card
- A4 paper
- Paint
- Paint brushes
- String
- Sticky tape
Before you begin
- Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Additional help to carry out your risk assessment, including examples can be found here. Don’t forget to make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
- Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help if you’re short on helpers.
- Create an example ‘Fu’ character, meaning good luck, by drawing a large copy that everyone will be able to see and use to draw theirs from.
Painting your decoration
- Gather everyone together and explain that you’re going to make Fu decorations. They’re decorations used to wish people good luck for the new year.
- Everyone should take a piece of paper. Fu decorations are often painted onto a diamond shaped piece of paper or card, so people may wish to cut their card into one of these shapes.
- Next, people can choose their paint and pick up a paintbrush, then use the example to paint their own symbol of good luck, copying the Chinese character ‘Fu’. People may wish to use a pencil to sketch it out first and that’s OK.
- Everyone should decorate the borders of their paper with different colours and patterns to of their choice.
- Now people can choose how and where they want to display their good luck symbol. You could fold the paper in half to turn it into a greetings card. They could use the sticky tape to attach a loop of string and hang it on the wall or in a window to turn it into a decoration.
Reflection
Did you enjoy making the Fu decoration? Can anyone remember what it means? Why do you think people wish each other good luck at new year?
Whether it’s a decoration in a window or a wreath on a front door, decorations are used to mark different events, holidays, festivals and celebrations all around the world. Why do we think decorations are so popular? It could help us to spread some happiness, help build a community and make friends or let everyone share in the celebrations together.
Safety
All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.
- Craft: Unusual substances
Supervise young people appropriately when they’re using unusual substances, such as powdered paint, ash or dirt. Be aware of any medical conditions that could be affected by what’s being used. Make sure you follow all relevant safety guidance or manufacturers guidelines, where available. Make sure you dispose of it appropriately too, in line with safety guidance.
Creating an example ‘Fu’ character to copy can make this activity super simple. To step it up you make more complicated decorations like bunting style banners or find some more Chinese characters to include.
Consider printing individual examples of the Fu character, then using tracing paper to make it simpler to copy. Make sure you have a good selection of paint and paper colours for everyone to choose from. You could also use other items, such as pens, pencils, crayons, collaging materials or chalk so there is something for everyone.
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
You could look into more ways that Chinese New Year is marked and celebrated, decorate your meeting space and have your very own Chinese New Year celebration.