Tainan elementary school camp teaches indigenous culture through cross-stitch

As summer vacation winds down, Koupai Experimental Elementary School in Tainan's Xinhua District concluded its summer camp, which celebrated the indigenous Siraya culture. The camp offered children a journey of diverse exploration, blending local traditions with life education, all while filled with joyful laughter.

The camp's unique focus was a tribute to "Ukulele," the school dog who passed away. Students designed and stitched cross-stitch pieces featuring the beloved pet, creating a collective artwork as a memorial. This collaborative project, woven with love, added a warm touch to the curriculum.

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The camp's collective creation, woven with love, was a tribute to this special "family member."

Principal Chen Hui-chieh highlighted the camp's immersive approach, with most instruction conducted in Taiwanese and Siraya languages. Through daily conversations and hands-on activities, children delved deep into local culture. The program also included food education, reading picture books, and engaging board games, offering a rich and varied experience.

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The camp's teaching mostly used Taiwanese and Siraya languages, leading children to deeply understand local culture through daily conversations and hands-on practice.

Students presented Siraya-inspired gifts, including flower garlands and symbolic items, along with cross-stitched patterns of "asu" (dog) and "ayam" (bird) from Siraya attire, ensuring "Ukulele" would not be alone in the afterlife. Principal Chen noted that these heartfelt creations would be framed within bamboo baskets co-created by the students under the guidance of elders.

In the food education segment, children used locally grown bananas to bake healthy biscuits and mashed seasonal watermelon and mango into a "bamboo tube juice." This unique culinary experience delighted the students, who affectionately named it "smash juice."

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This special way of eating surprised the children, who directly named it "smash juice."