Year 2 Mandarin classes on The Very Hungry Caterpillar (毛 毛 虫) are a hit

At St Mary’s School, our students have an option to learn Mandarin from Junior School onwards. Not only does learning Mandarin give students the potential to connect with over a billion speakers worldwide but learning the characters can help with motor skills and visual recognition – vital skills for early learners. These lessons foster their love of languages and challenge the girls from an early age, supported by how much the children enjoy their classes.  

Mandarin Teacher Mrs Skillings’ recent Year 2’s lessons are just one example of this. Since the new term began, Year 2’s work has focused on The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. The children learned the key word 毛毛虫 (caterpillar) in Mandarin. They acted out the story in our beautiful school garden and woodlands, each taking turns to be the head of the 毛毛虫. The children then drew their own version of the 毛毛虫 during the lessons, showcasing their with outstanding creativity and writing skills. 

Mrs Skillings reports that the children loved their caterpillar activities and that she’s very proud of their work. We look forward to hearing about their lessons as the year progresses. 

Find out more about Mrs Skillings' teaching here.