Kinmen County Elementary School-Peace Kinmen Island

The interdisciplinary course "Peaceful Kinmen Island," held in the second semester of the 2014 academic year, focuses on "Drawing images of peace from Kinmen's battlefield memories." The course takes students on a journey through historical sites, engaging their five senses and listening to stories, forging a genuine connection with memories of their hometown. We walk through tunnels and beaches, interview elders about their life experiences, and experience the weight of history. We also learn to reflect on the past with respect and empathy, reflecting on the value of peace today and the possibilities of the future.
The course integrates social studies, language arts, art, human rights, and SEL social-emotional learning. It also incorporates the AI tool NotebookLM to help students organize interview materials, capture emotions, and develop creative ideas. In aesthetic learning, students draw inspiration from the historical imagery of Picasso's "Guernica" and the free-spirited symbolism of Miró. Combining artifacts from the Kinmen battlefield with symbols of peace, they transform their experiences into visual language and craft personalized images of peace.
Finally, the children's Guernica canvas, "Peaceful Kinmen Island," features the orange-yellow Kinmen Island as its centerpiece, symbolizing the transformation of a battlefield into an island of peace. The canvas, framed by colorful scrolls representing the 17 SDGs, incorporates images such as the Ghost Village, agave, and fighter jets, conveying the memory and anxiety of war. Elements such as heart doves, peace symbols, floating balloons, and stars also express blessings and hope for the world.