FREE Workshops for Sheffield Schools

Free Workshops for Sheffield Schools

We are working with Sheffield City Council to offer every participating school a free one-hour China Day session in January 2026, as part of the celebrations for the Sheffield Lunar Chinese New Year 2026 – the Year of the Horse.

Since 2007, the Sheffield Confucius Institute (SCI) has supported Chinese language and culture across the city. We have worked with a wide range of schools to provide Mandarin lessons, after-school clubs, China Day activities, School Diversity Week contributions, International Day sessions, and more.

To mark the 2026 celebrations, the SCI will offer free one-hour workshops or presentations, available each morning or afternoon over a four-week period leading up to Lunar New Year.

These new in-school sessions aim to build excitement around Chinese culture and give pupils meaningful learning experiences. Through fun and interactive activities, schools can introduce pupils to the history, cultural significance, and traditions of the Lunar New Year. The sessions support language awareness, cultural understanding, and global citizenship education.

Benefits for Schools

• Enhances pupils’ understanding of world cultures
• Supports language awareness and cross-cultural communication
• Offers enjoyable, hands-on learning experiences
• Builds anticipation for the Lunar Chinese New Year 2026
• Aligns with cultural, arts, and global citizenship learning objectives

Activities and Workshops

Our one-hour sessions draw on the popular activities delivered through the Sheffield Confucius Institute’s China Day programme. Activities may include:

Cultural Workshops

Chinese Brush Calligraphy
Hands-on practice with brush and ink, introducing basic strokes or simple characters such as names or lucky symbols.

Panda Painting / Horse Painting
Creative painting workshops inspired by iconic Chinese imagery and themes for the Year of the Horse.

Chinese Arts & Crafts
Fan making, lantern making, dragon crafts, and other creative activities exploring traditional festival arts.

Tai Chi and Kung Fu
A calm, guided introduction to Tai Chi movements promoting balance and focus, combined with energetic beginner-level Kung Fu actions.

Chinese Folk Dance
An energetic introduction to simple traditional dance movements from different regions of China.

Chinese Music and Songs
Learning a simple Chinese song or exploring traditional instruments and rhythms.

Language Workshops

Chinese Language Taster
A fun, accessible introduction to Mandarin through greetings, simple phrases, and pronunciation games.

Chinese Characters: Understanding the Basics
Exploring the origins and structure of Chinese characters, including pictographs, radicals, and how meaning is formed.

Interactive Storytelling, Poem and Drama
Chinese stories, myths, or festival tales brought to life through mime, movement, and pupil participation, such as Legend of the Four Dragons, Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate, Magic Horse of Han Gan, The Magic Brush, and the Heavenly Horse.

Assembly Presentation

A larger group presentation introducing Lunar New Year traditions, cultural practices, and basic elements of the Chinese language. Ideal for whole-school or year-group gatherings.

Practical Information

• Schools are responsible for ensuring suitable space and support for each session, and for confirming pupil numbers (maximum 35) and year group.
• Schools should prepare everyday materials such as coloured paper and stationery if required.
• The SCI will provide specialist materials including brushes, ink, and rice paper.
• All SCI teaching staff hold enhanced DBS clearance.
• Schools wishing to arrange a session longer than one hour can contact the SCI directly; any additional costs will be agreed in advance.

How to Book

The Booking System will open shortly.

Please note: China Day bookings for full-day or half-day programmes remain open for schools requiring activities for multiple classes or year groups.

For more information, contact:

Email: confucius@sheffield.ac.uk