This week in the classroom we learned that some of California’s earliest farmworkers were Chinese immigrants who were looking for work after helping to build the transcontinental railroad in the 19th century. We looked at photos from this time period of Chinese people in the fields and vineyards of California as well as a political cartoon referencing the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the United States’ relationship with other minority and historically oppressed peoples.
We watched a video about the history of dumplings and talked about how almost every food culture has some form of dough wrapped around a delicious filling.
In the kitchen we made our own dumplings, filling them with fresh, local produce as well as a few hidden coins. The tradition of hiding coins in dumplings is a part of Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, which will occur in January of 2025. The Chinese zodiac will turn from the year of the dragon to the year of the snake. The person who gets the coin will be very lucky and have good fortune in the new year!
