Guoxi Elementary School in Nantou County – Enjoy the aroma of tea and the rhythm of the piano
This semester's cross-disciplinary curriculum builds on the school's tea ceremony curriculum, incorporating music and Minnan singing. This semester, a dance program has been developed through physical activity. Plant dyeing courses have been incorporated into the tea ceremony curriculum to introduce students to tea ceremony culture. Dance performances have been incorporated into Minnan folk songs, providing students with a unique learning experience and allowing them to internalize the language through their performances. Beyond the static language and folk song learning, the Minnan language curriculum incorporates the kinetic energy of physical activity, stimulating students' learning motivation. The handmade plant dyeing course cultivates students' creativity and aesthetic sense. The finished products are used as towels for Wuwo tea ceremonies, allowing students to experience the charm of traditional crafts through hands-on practice. Environmental awareness is also promoted, with students understanding the application of natural dyes and the value of sustainable development. Body stretching classes are a beautiful cleansing for both body and mind. Static language and song classes allow students to practice conversation and communication techniques. Adding body stretching (dance) to these language and song classes creates a unique feast after the high-energy state. Dance classes can also help students feel more stable and clear-minded afterward, while also allowing them to learn diverse, cross-disciplinary subjects. The school has also expanded its existing music curriculum, which includes yangqin and guzheng, to include a string and bamboo orchestra, offering students a more diverse musical experience.
Nowadays, students have a lot of erratic behaviors due to academic pressure, and they will forget their own physical and spiritual deficiencies and needs. Through the cross-field courses arranged by the school, students' academic tension can be slowly adjusted and the body can return to balance and health. .
In addition, a horizontal connection is made between the original musical instrument learning and tea ceremony learning courses. Students add musical elements to the original tea-making scenario. This semester, dynamic body activities are added to make the course content more diverse and lively. We hope to integrate and deepen the teaching of language, tea art, dance and art through cross-disciplinary collaboration, combining artistic performances, language poetry singing and handcraft courses, and adding body stretching courses to increase student learning outcomes. Limb stretching classes are not strenuous; they are gentle, relaxing and non-competitive. They can produce a subtle, refreshing feeling and transmit it to the muscles. This class varies from person to person and there is no need to follow any rigid rules. Stretching exercises rely on yourself and make you feel like yourself. Then, we combine it with the original language activities to develop courses suitable for students.
Through the learning and practice of plant dyeing courses, students have gained multifaceted growth in knowledge, skills, attitudes, etc.
Students will learn about the historical background and cultural value of plant dyeing, appreciate the unique characteristics of Taiwanese plant dyeing techniques, and develop an interest in traditional skills, thereby enhancing their identification with and respect for local culture. They will also develop creativity and aesthetics through hands-on practice, designing unique patterns through various dyeing techniques. This will enhance their craftsmanship and concentration, cultivating patience and meticulousness. During the dyeing process, students will actively experiment with different designs and techniques, learning to solve practical problems such as uneven dyeing and patterns that don't meet expectations. Through discussion and practice, they will reflect on how to integrate traditional crafts with modern environmental concepts to promote sustainable design applications.
In stretching classes, simple exercises are used to gradually improve muscle strength and flexibility, while allowing students to connect with their inner selves, relieve muscle stiffness and soreness, increase flexibility, and provide needed rest. This is an experiential learning experience where students develop simple skills through dynamic dance classes, complemented by language and song performances. Therefore, this interdisciplinary curriculum cultivates students' patience, respect, and gratitude for others, inspiring resilience and perseverance in life. This is transformed into an artistic atmosphere. The performance of the Fenwei Zhongjia Sizhu Orchestra at the Zhushan District Farmers' Association Winter Tea Fair created a warm atmosphere. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, the program aims to integrate artistic performances and Minnan poetry and songs, deepen the teaching of language, tea art, dance, and art, and enhance student learning outcomes.
Through the process of joint lesson preparation by school teachers and the hiring of professional tea sommeliers and dancers to conduct teacher training at the school, teachers’ teaching abilities are enhanced, and cross-disciplinary qualities such as music, language and dance are added to revitalize the original tea ceremony teaching.
