News source:Harbor News>

Linyuan Elementary School in Linyuan District, Kaohsiung City, recently held a meaningful interdisciplinary aesthetics course that combined local food culture with hands-on experience in making the traditional dish "Yiye Gan" (literally "overnight dried fish") on campus. The event specially invited five-star chef Chef A-Chi to the school for guidance and involved community elders, allowing children to gain a deeper understanding of the complete process of fish products from "farm to table" through hands-on practice.

During the course, students personally experienced steps such as scaling fish, gutting fish, washing, marinating, and sun-drying. For many children, it was their first time actually touching fish and carefully observing its structure and processing methods. Rows of dried fish drying in a corner of the campus became the most unique and adorable learning scene on campus, naturally transforming the living space into an aesthetically pleasing classroom.

In addition to learning about food culture, the course also incorporates mathematical concepts. Students are required to actually measure and calculate the seasoning ratios to understand the precision and patience required behind the "secret recipe," transforming abstract academic knowledge into concrete and profound learning experiences.

Through collaboration with community elders, senior students, and peers, students learned communication, division of labor, and mutual assistance during the hands-on process. Student Huang Yongxin shared, "I found it very interesting to do a night shift with the elders. This activity was very special, and it made me feel the sense of accomplishment of completing tasks with friends and elders. I hope there will be more activities like this in the future."

In her reflection, student Yang Fuzhen wrote that she felt nervous when she first cut a fish belly and was afraid of the fish blood, but she learned to calm herself down by taking deep breaths and asked the elders for help. She said, "The elders taught me slowly until I could do it, which made me feel very at ease." She also mentioned that everyone helped each other during the activity and learned to "take only what you can eat" to avoid wasting food.

Principal Hung Tsung-chi of Linyuan Elementary School stated that Linyuan is located by the sea, and fish has long been an important part of the residents' lives and diet. Through this hands-on aesthetic course, it is hoped that students will not only learn how to cook, but also understand the marine culture of their hometown and cultivate an attitude of cherishing food resources, being grateful for the land, and respecting life.

This "One Night Dry" course is an important practice of Linyuan Elementary School in promoting interdisciplinary aesthetic education. It combines art perception, life skills, social-emotional learning (SEL) and sustainability concepts (SDGs) to bring learning from the classroom into life and leave a deep and warm memory in the children's hearts.