Making paper came about through a long series of developments between the sixteenth century B.C. and ninth century A.D., during which time Chinese writing systems progressed from bamboo slats to silk to the invention of various forms of paper we would recognize today. Have your students gather scratch paper or paper from their recycling bins and tear it into very small strips. Fill a large plastic bucket with the paper and cover with water. Give your students each a turn with a large wooden stick pushing and churning the paper to help it absorb the water. Once it becomes sticky and thick, ask your students to take small handfuls of paper pulp and spread it over fine metal mesh held by wooden frames, which you will need to provide them. When they have pressed their own sheets until they are smooth and without gaps, set them aside where they can dry in the sun or over a vent. Try this on a Friday so that the paper has time to dry over the weekend; by Monday, your students can practice writing Chinese characters!
Creating images using tangram blocks teaches about Chinese inventions and foundational geometry for children whose minds work best with tactile tasks. Have your students group in threes or fours and give each group a tangram set. Let each group choose a slip of paper upon which have been printed images of shapes that can be made with tangrams. Each group will need to create the picture using the tangram within a specific amount of time--simple images can be made in two minutes, more difficult ones can be given five to seven minutes. When every group has completed the task, other groups can look at what the others have made. Try this a few times, giving each group new images.
Give your students the chance to learn about directions and mapmaking using a Chinese invention: the compass. Use a small magnet to magnetize a sewing needle and insert it into a cork so that the same length of the needle can be seen at both ends of the cork. Discuss what you are doing and why to your second graders. Because of the danger involved in handling a sewing needle in their age group, it is better if you assemble and handle the compass throughout. Place the compass in a bowl filled with water and set it down on a table. Ask the students to tell you where they can find north and why. Have them draw a map of the classroom using directions and laying out major points of the classroom in the correct quadrants. If the weather is nice, take the compass outside and set it down so they can determine where major spots on the playground can be found. You can direct students to look at the compass and determine where to go when you tell them to head to the north, south, east or west corner of the playground. For further fun, you can have only some students move to different areas such as, "everyone wearing something red move two steps east."
Provide your students with dried reeds or thin wooden sticks, tissue paper and twine. Let them decorate their sheets of paper with a painted emblem or design of their choice. Show them the basic structure of a kite as well as examples from photographs, drawings or videos of more elaborate kites. Guide them through assembling their own simple kites, complete with a line, tail and frame. Make sure that their kites remain light, not using too many heavy materials. When fully assembled and dry, take them out to a park on a windy day to fly their kites. To make certain everyone has a chance to fly their kites, collaborate with parents to make it a participatory event or field trip with adult volunteers.