WEBZINE ACC

“Keep Me Safe, ACC” is one of the Asia Culture Center’s (ACC’s) “Make your own adventure this summer vacation!” programs,
held over five sessions on August 3 (WED), 6 (SAT), 7 (SUN), 13 (SAT), and 20 (SUN).

# What’s in the box?

What’s in the box? Children put their hands into the black box to feel around the inside. The first was a ring, the second was a bracelet, and the third was a traditional Korean fan. Children who raised their hands and managed to get what was in the box were given sparkling beads. Look at the children collecting the beads into a jewel box!

# What are accessories, and why were they worn?

Before creating the accessories, children first learn about the significance of the accessories and how they are used. They think of its many functions, such as celebrating beauty, discarding fear, and gaining courage to wish for hopes to come true, show status, and protect oneself from the enemy.

# Learn about Korean and Asian accessories!

What are some Korean accessories? The gat (horsehair hat), fan, manggeon (woven hairband), jokduri (bridal crown), norigae, binyeo (hairpin), and silver knife. What are these accessories used for?
Learn about the accessories’ appearances and uses.

Afterward, participants also learn about other, perhaps less familiar accessories from China, India, Mongolia, Vietnam, etc. Children take the opportunity to wear the traditional Vietnamese hat, nón lá, or jokduri, a Korean bridal crown, as they learn about the traditional accessories of Asia.

# With best wishes, draw your own guardian spirit

Now’s the time to get creative! The goal is to make my very own necklace as one of the reasons for wearing accessories, “protection.” What can protect me? The children made their wishes after thinking about the question. Their wishes range from “I want a new toy,” to “I want to be happy with mom and dad forever!” Their hands are clasped firmly in prayer.

With the wishes in tow, the children draw their guardian spirits on Shrinkles paper. Some draw characters, while others draw their parents or animals. Once they draw and color the guardian spirits, they take the spirits to the oven.

Children drawing their guardian spirits on a Shrinkles paper

# Gather your wishes onto the paper and see how it shrinks! Thread the beads to complete the necklace

Once the Shrinkles papers are baked in the oven, they shrink into a tiny size. “Look, it’s shrunk!” The sense of wonder is apparent in their voice. While the paper is being baked, the children return to their place and start threading the beads onto a necklace. Their concentration is interrupted, however, when the beads fall out with a rattle. But no one is about to give up; they pick up the beads and try again.

With small hands, they thread the beads one by one, connect their guardian spirits to the necklace, and decorate the necklace with jewel stickers. The necklace is complete, and the children try blowing the whistle that will protect them.

# Wear the traditional costumes of Asia! Commemorative photographs

Once the program is over, the children wear the Asian costume of their choice, pose in front of an instant camera, and take a group picture with their best poses. This session seemed to be filled with particularly spirited children.

Children posing with their guardian spirit necklaces

By working with different accessories in Asia, the children learned the traditions and cultures of Korea and other Asian countries, as well as the concept of cultural diversity. The necklace-making session was also an opportunity for the children to think about how accessories are not only used to express beauty but also for protection.