USCI K-12 Educator Workshop: Teaching with the Chinese Garden at The Huntington
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Introduction
On Saturday, September 20, 2025, thirty-eight teachers from across Southern California gathered at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, CA, for the USC U.S.-China Institute’s K-12 Educator Saturday Workshop: Teaching with the Chinese Garden. This professional development program invited K–12 educators to explore Chinese garden traditions through scholarship, hands-on activities, and collaborative learning.
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Understanding the Chinese Garden
The day began with a two-hour session by Professor Vinayak Bharne, USC urban planner and architect, who introduced the history and symbolism of Chinese gardens. Teachers discussed design elements, the use of plants, and the cultural meanings embedded in these landscapes. Comparisons with Japanese gardens and other global garden traditions sparked lively questions, particularly around the theme of “manipulation” in shaping natural elements. This conversation encouraged participants to consider how symbolism and aesthetics can be framed in cross-cultural teaching.
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Highlighting Resources
Dr. Kristin McNutt, Program Specialist for K–12 Education, introduced Huntington resources tailored for classroom use. Her presentation showcased digital tools, artworks, and guided materials that educators can adapt for teaching about Chinese art and culture. Teachers expressed interest in how these resources could support curriculum across subjects, from history and literature to language and art.
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Networking and Collaboration
During lunch, teachers had the opportunity to connect with peers from different grade levels and subject areas—including Spanish, world history, and literature. This time of informal exchange reflected the workshop’s emphasis on peer-to-peer learning, helping participants build networks and brainstorm practical classroom applications.
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Immersive Exploration
In the afternoon, educators divided into five groups for an interactive tour of Liu Fang Yuan (流芳園, The Garden of Flowing Fragrance). Each group was tasked with focusing on a specific feature of the garden and interpreting its symbolism through creative expression. Some participants wrote poems or made drawings inspired by their observations, while others investigated the intricate paving patterns of the garden’s courtyards. These activities encouraged teachers to ask questions such as: Why are there different paving designs? How do we observe and sense meaning in physical space?
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Sharing and Reflection
Groups reconvened to share their drawings, poems, and reflections. Teachers emphasized how symbolism in the garden connects to universal themes that can be integrated into different subject areas. They discussed strategies for adapting these insights into lesson plans, from using garden imagery in art classes to drawing cultural comparisons in history and world languages.
The workshop concluded with a wrap-up session where participants reflected on their experiences. By blending scholarly insight with creative exploration, the workshop highlighted how Chinese gardens can be a powerful teaching tool across disciplines, fostering cross-cultural understanding and fresh approaches to classroom engagement.