Ma Futao Pottery Creation, Xifu Elementary School, Guangfu Township, Hualien County

This course centers on the core concepts of "Land, Life, and Sustainability," combining local culture of the Maverick region, conservation of solitary bees, and ceramic art. It integrates the educational principles of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) and SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) to construct an interdisciplinary learning curriculum that combines aesthetics, inquiry, hands-on experience, and compassion. The course aims to guide students to start from their own living environment, observing the land, understanding ecology, creating art, and engaging in practical activities. This will cultivate problem-solving skills and a sense of responsibility for environmental protection, ultimately building core competencies for sustainable development.
The curriculum is designed to start with the unique soil environment and historical background of the landslide-dammed lake in the Mafu area, guiding students to explore the natural process of land formation and understand the characteristics and cultural value of local silt. Through hands-on collection, observation, comparison, and analysis of different soil materials, students understand the close relationship between the natural environment and human life, transforming natural science knowledge into concrete and meaningful learning experiences. Through ceramic art activities, students further integrate local cultural elements into their works, experiencing the importance of land memory and cultural inheritance, and building a sense of identity and belonging to their hometown.
The course also incorporates ecological education on solitary bees, guiding students to understand the pollination function of solitary bees in ecosystems and their contribution to biodiversity. Through observing the living habits and habitat requirements of solitary bees, students learn to think about ways for humans to coexist with nature from a biological perspective, further understanding the importance of environmental conservation. The course goes beyond mere knowledge acquisition; through hands-on activities such as building solitary bee hotels and creating friendly habitats, students translate their learning into concrete actions, cultivating an attitude of protecting the environment and cherishing life.
Under the STEAM education philosophy, the curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary integration and the cultivation of problem-solving skills. Students experience a complete process of observation, analysis, design, testing, revision, and innovation, from exploring soil properties, creating pottery, and applying kiln firing techniques to designing and building a solitary beehive. Through engineering design thinking and the application of technological tools, students learn to use knowledge to solve real-world problems, enhancing their creativity, critical thinking, and practical skills, thus embodying the educational spirit of "learning by doing."
Furthermore, this course emphasizes the integration of Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Through teamwork, discussion, sharing, and collaborative creation, students learn to listen, communicate, coordinate, and respect different opinions, cultivating strong interpersonal skills. Simultaneously, through a learning process focused on caring for the land, ecology, and life, students develop empathy, self-awareness, and social responsibility, establishing positive learning attitudes and values.
In summary, this course is rooted in local culture, aims for ecological sustainability, uses ceramic art as a medium, employs STEAM interdisciplinary learning as a methodology, and focuses on SEL (Student Emotional Intelligence) development. It strives to cultivate students' abilities in inquiry-based practice, innovative thinking, aesthetic appreciation, collaborative communication, and environmental action. Through a learning journey that begins with the land and extends to life itself, students will develop into lifelong learners with a strong sense of local identity and a global perspective, as they come to understand their hometown, care for the environment, and practice sustainability.