CHINA has been the theme of a whole school year for a group of youngsters.

Pupils at St Aidan's First School in Smithy Close, Skelmanthorpe, have been leaning about everything Chinese, from food to dancing dragons since September.

The children have even been using ancient techniques to help them learn.

Head teacher Ian Richardson said: "Every morning the children all do a series of movements to music. This is thought to enable the two sides of the brain to work together and help learning.

"Although we are coming to the end of the year we will be continuing to do this because we have really seen a difference.

"The children have more energy and want to learn more," he added.

"We have studied China from lots of different angles. We have done Chinese dragon dancing, Chinese writing and also lantern- making."