8. Static Electricity and Bronze Ware Lessons from Candou

My little grandson Candou is in the middle class. Their AJA kindergarten advocates the Montessori education method, focusing on developing children's intelligence, hands-on and brain skills. Parents were informed that this week there would be a lesson on bronze ware.

At 3:30 PM on December 13, 2021, I picked him up and told him that the teacher would have a bronze ware lesson this week. We needed to prepare, so I said we should go find a photo shop to print some pictures. Candou thought for a moment and said, 'I know one around here. Let's ride a bike there.' So we found a Hellobike. He steered while I pushed, and we went to the stationery store on Dongjian Road to print three photos.

One was a photo I took during my visit to the Yinxu Museum of the Simuwu Quadripod, another was a bronze ox, and the third was of the two brothers watching an old lady burning incense at Chongyuan Temple, gathered around an iron incense burner.

Today, the school taught the children about static electricity. As soon as we entered the house, Candou asked, 'Grandpa, are you wearing a wool sweater?' I showed him I was. He said, 'Let me teach you about static electricity. Go to my room, turn off the lights, and when you take off your clothes, you'll see static electricity.' During dinner, he quizzed his older brother on static electricity knowledge, forbidding us from telling him the answer.

After changing clothes and eating fruit, I held Candou on my lap to watch some videos about bronze ware on the computer, which I had prepared in advance. Then I explained the three photos to him. After that, we put the photos into his schoolbag, and I told him to give them to the teacher tomorrow. The little guy said to me with great interest, 'Grandpa, let me give you a lesson on bronze ware.' Then he brought out his writing board, stuck the three photos onto it, quickly drew a bronze vessel himself, and told me to sit down and listen to his lecture. With just a few strokes, the bronze vessel looked quite realistic.

Because of interest, showing off, a sense of ceremony, and using the body and senses to perceive and remember new knowledge, the child's way of learning is worth learning from.

Sent on WeChat at 11:26 PM on December 13, 2021, received 106 likes and 11 comments:

Tang: Candou uses what he learns. The bronze ware drawing looks quite good.

Guo: Trip to Yinxu, a primary material. The Shanghai Museum has a treasure – the Great Yu Ding.

Wu: Candou is awesome.

Li: Well-taught.

Gu: If family and friends around all love learning, then Candou is naturally influenced. Candou is a gentle child, diligent and active in learning, loves to explore and think. Grandpa actively develops and nurtures Candou's talents, further boosting his strong learning atmosphere. It's really great. Candou's drawing has great imagination.

Chen: Apply what you learn, turn knowledge into ability.

Zhu: Truly wonderful, truly happy.