Co-op in Review: January 16, 2014

This week, our studies keep us in Asia, however now we are studying China!  The kids reviewed China's long, long history, yet their studies focused on the end of the Imperial age and the struggles for power that began as the Dynasties ended.  The main struggle after World War 2 was between Communist forces and those that were not communist.  Communist Mao Zedong, backed by Stalin and Communist Russia ended up winning after many years of struggle.  This left Chaing Kai-Shek and his Nationalist party to start a new nation in what we know as Taiwan.  The Dialectic kids put their artistic skills to work making grid drawings of popular Chinese characters.  The Upper Grammar kids made Chinese dragons out of colorful plastic cups.  While the Lower Grammar class went back in time to study India, making geometric designs on lovely silver serving platters.  The Five in a Row class read the book, "A Pair of Red Clogs."  It's the story of a Japanese girl who breaks her beautiful new red clogs and is tempted, yet resists, being dishonest.  The kids then made adorable Japanese Kokeshi dolls, that they are sure to enjoy playing with and little red clogs that they will love wearing!