Tainan Municipal Yongkang Junior High School — "Street Corner, Pattern, Local Soul" — Manhole Covers with Art and Count

In the 18th century, the city was crisscrossed by waterways, which formed a unique network of life for its people. Over time, the waterways that once bustled with small sampans have become old alleyways for tourists to explore, and the manhole covers in these alleyways serve as a testament to the waterways' past existence.
In this course, the art teacher first guided students through the design history of manhole covers, building prior knowledge. The teacher community designed two walking routes: 1. Exploration of the Seven Corners of Puji Temple: Following the history teacher, students explored the cultural heartland of Fucheng – the area around Wutiaogang. They walked along seven pedestrian paths around Puji Temple, traversing Minzu Road and Ximen Road, learning how to record and collect cultural elements, and admiring the distinctive manhole cover artworks along six routes around Puji Temple. Then, the learning environment was brought back to Yongkang District for 2. Walking Tour of Yongkang's Featured Scenic Spots: The history teacher guided students to observe six featured scenic spots in Yongkang District, collecting necessary cultural patterns and carefully experiencing and finding unique aesthetics.
Back at school, students followed their math teacher to explore the question, "Why are most manhole covers round?" They conducted geometric comparison experiments and discussed geometric properties, establishing the connection between shape and mathematical characteristics. Students practiced ruler and compass constructions, designing their own basic prototypes for mathematical manhole covers. Then, in art class, art and life science teachers worked together to design sketches of manhole covers with the theme "Shang Gai Shui" (meaning "Shang Gai Shui," a name implying a unique style of Yongkang). Using the concept of stained glass, they created lightbox wall decorations of manhole covers, resulting in distinctive and aesthetically pleasing learning corner decorations on campus.
The integrated teacher taught students to use needle and thread instead of paintbrushes to embroider modern retro-style manhole cover creative tags on fabric; the Chinese teacher also guided everyone to build writing skills for the design concept of the works, and learn to use words to accurately express their own ideas.
Finally, in the course taught by the information technology teacher, we learned how to use AI software. Using Canva, we designed and arranged images of Yongkang's distinctive manhole covers, along with conceptual text written by classmates, to create cultural and creative products such as artsy postcards, heat transfer eco-friendly bags, and epoxy resin coasters. We also presented our learning results, "Street Corner, Pattern, Local Soul"—Manhole Covers with Art and Science, and had a wonderful learning exchange and interaction with teachers and students in the school.