At the December Food Series event of the International Academy, when everyone put down their books and picked up flour and spices with both hands, an exploration of culture, collaboration, and self discovery quietly began in the misty heat.
01
Make dumplings——
Witnessing individual brilliance in the process of co shaping 'reunion'
For students, making dumplings is not only an essential life skill for keeping children, but also a deep experience of reunion and collaboration. From filling, kneading to cooking, every step requires meticulous division of labor and good collaboration.
Before the activity, the teachers introduced the differences between Chinese dumplings and Japanese dumplings to the students: the former has a thick skin and a full filling, and is a staple food symbolizing reunion, carrying the meaning of "getting married at a younger age"; The latter has thin skin and less filling, and is a dish that accompanies rice, often paired with rice. The teacher also talked about the custom of "Winter Solstice is as big as the New Year" in Suzhou - in Suzhou, the protagonist of the winter solstice table is not dumplings, but the "Winter Solstice Group" symbolizing reunion, winter wine for dispelling cold and praying for blessings, and a sumptuous family banquet. This allows students to deeply understand that on the same winter solstice, there are diverse local expressions on the land of China. And this event is a way for them to personally connect with this profound tradition.
During the event, the classroom transformed into a 'food workshop'. Classmates collaborate in groups, showcasing their skills from filling to making dumplings. Dumplings come in a variety of creative styles, including traditional crescent shaped dumplings, as well as innovative shapes such as shell shaped dumplings and yuanbao dumplings. Among them, the dumplings made by Jin Wenshu were recognized by her classmates as "beautiful and responsible".
Corresponding to exquisite craftsmanship is another kind of warm dedication - Wang Zijin and Mao Wenbin demonstrated excellent "dumpling making" skills, accurately grasping the heat and time to ensure that each pot of dumplings is just right. Everyone tasted the fruits of their labor and felt the warmth and beauty of traditional solar terms.
Teacher Sun, the homeroom teacher of Grade 2, shared, "Education sometimes requires different scenarios. The patience and helpful leadership demonstrated by students in hands-on practice are the shining points that cannot be measured by the test paper at the moment
For many students, this is the first time that they have fully experienced the process of making dumplings from raw materials to finished products, which can help them understand that "one Congee and one meal is hard to come by.".
02
Winter hot drinks——
In the process of blending spices, one can appreciate balance and creativity
At the winter hot drink themed class held by the English group in the second and third year of high school, the complex aroma of cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and fruit was pervasive. The core of this lesson is to guide students to understand, feel, and create "flavors" like scientists and artists.
In class, trays were filled with cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, fragrant leaves, rosemary, cardamom, fresh oranges, apples, lime, and lemon. The teachers first explained the historical origins of hot red wine and the external characteristics of each spice, and then asked the students to smell and observe them one by one to feel the richer aroma inside.
Before touching it with our own hands, many students thought that 'spice' was a vague concept in the kitchen, "Teacher Gu shared.
Subsequently, the students worked in groups to independently design an "exclusive hot drink recipe". Some groups want to highlight the fruity aroma, so they added twisted orange peel and reduced cloves; Some groups have found that the sweetness of sugar can make the flavors of various spices blend more smoothly; Some groups mentioned that too much heat can accelerate the evaporation of odors, so next time you need to be more patient and cook slowly over low heat. The air is filled with a complex aroma of various spices, fruits, and non-alcoholic red wine, making each pot a small flavor testing ground.
This is not just cooking, but also a vivid 'sensory education lesson' - students activate their sense of smell, taste, and vision, learning how to achieve flavor balance through fine-tuning variables.
What this class leaves for students is far more than just a warm drink. What they learned was how to transform abstract concepts of "harmony," "balance," and "creation" into tangible, controllable, and reproducible experiences through careful adjustments in dosage, temperature, time, and time. This grasp of "degree" obtained at the tip of their tongue and fingertips will eventually become a valuable thinking skill for them when facing more complex issues.
A Temperature, Infinite Extension: "Fusion" Education in Academies
The food will be finished and warm drinks will be served, but the warmth gained through hands-on labor about culture, cooperation, and creation will be preserved for a long time. When students of the International Academy step into a broader world, what they take away is this ability to be down-to-earth and deeply rooted in cultural roots; Being able to look up at the stars, embrace diversity, and have the courage to create warm and comprehensive qualities through hands-on experience.
Although the night is long, spring has its own period. May the warmth of winter accompany every step of exploration and become an eternal star on their future journey.