Terms for creativity

Two works of the 1,520 designs themed on 24 Solar Terms by kids of 97 primary schools in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"I drew a full moon because the White Dew is near mid-autumn and used a dark color to show it was night.

"I used a pen to draw the lines and then colored my design with marker pens," Yifei explains.

Shao Liyuan, an art teacher at Cuiwei Primary School, was awarded the best tutor.

"Our students were enthusiastic and creative about the design contest. More than 95 percent of the students in each class took part in the competition. We won a dozen awards," Shao says.

The designs were all original ideas by the students.

"As a tutor, I just helped them to accomplish their ideas," Shao says.

"The competition also brought parents closer to their children, as they helped explain the solar terms."

Yin Yue, the mother of Chen Sizhuo, 10, who won awards for designs for six solar terms including Rain Water (yushui) and Insects Awakening (jingzhe), says: "I searched the information of the solar terms and told my son the story of each solar term. We both learned together."

Many primary schools in Beijing supported the competition. Fengtai No 1 Primary School organized hundreds of students to join the contest, and they worked in various mediums, including traditional Chinese painting, dough modeling and seal cutting.

"We were surprised by the students' works. They were not just paintings, but designs," says Yin Nan, principal of Beijing Fengtai No 1 Primary School.

"The competition provides a platform for our students, so they can be confident about themselves and care for nature at a young age."

Some of the prize winners will visit UN headquarters in New York in February.

"We encourage our students to go out," Yin says. "We want to see how creative our students can be."

Contact the writer at liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn