The Hakka style chopstick set

We are all excited to hear that the U.S.-Taiwan eco-campus partnership delegation will come to visit our school. That’s an international exchange for environmental education. What kind of environmental lesson should we prepare for them?

The Hakka style chopstick

Video：https://youtu.be/Ik2Np_kthJw

Video：https://youtu.be/Ik2Np_kthJw

To put into consideration both environmental and cultural experience, I think chopsticks will be the best representation. Chopsticks are shaped as pairs of equal length sticks that have been used as the eating utensil in Chinese history for at least two thousand years. Especially, we could use local-grown wood to make chopstick to highlight our “environmental protection” and “maker” specialties. Then we use the Hakka fabric to stitch a bag to pack a pair of chopsticks. I hope it will become the significant cultural gift for the partnership delegation teachers.

Teacher Wang taught children to plane wood

Teacher Wang taught children to plane wood

Teacher Wang taught children to plane wood

Sandpapering the wood to a smooth surface

Teacher Wang taught children to plane wood

Teacher Wang taught children to plane wood

Teacher Wang taught children to plane wood

Teacher Wang taught children to plane wood

Teacher Wang taught children to plane wood

In the past, windows were made from wood. The popular wood for making windows is Taiwan cypress which smells good. My coworker, Teacher Wang, took children to gather ancient wood windows around our community and took them apart. Then he taught children to plane the recycled wood. After the chopsticks were being shaped, they sandpapered the wood to a smooth surface.

The ancient wooden windows which was made by Taiwan cypress

Sawing the wood off

Principal Hsu planed the wood

Most children could plane the wood to shape a chopstick

The next step is to engrave each one’s name and the word “Daping” on the chopsticks by laser engraving machine. 

Engraving words on the chopsticks by laser engraving machine.

Engraving words on the chopsticks by laser engraving machine.

The chopsticks holder

Finally, partner teachers will only smear olive oil on chopsticks for protecting wood on July 13, 2016.
According to the tradition, the length of chopstick is 7.6 Taiwan inch(about 23 centimeters) which indicates that people have 7 emotions and 6 desires.

The length of chopstick is 7.6 Taiwan inch(about 23 centimeters) .

By the way, a pairs of chopsticks equals two chopsticks and the ”two” indicates the Chinese philosophy “Tai Chi”. So Teacher Shyu taught children to stitch the Hakka bag, of which the length is about 25 centimeters. Children were also taught to tie the Chinese knot to supply partner teachers to stitch on the Hakka bag.（105-06-27）

 Stitching teacher：Vivine YL Shyu

The Hakka fabric filled with flower pattern

Teacher Shyu taught children to stitch a chopstick bag.

Teacher Shyu taught children to stitch a chopstick bag.

Ironing the bag

Teacher Shyu taught children to stitch a chopstick bag.

Teacher Shyu taught children to stitch a chopstick bag.

Teacher Shyu taught children to stitch a chopstick bag.

The Chinese knot

The Hakka style chopstick set

The Hakka style chopstick set