Tainan City Yongren High School─Wood Paper and Pen Power

Our school is adjacent to Yongkang Park, with rich plant ecology, dense woods, and beautiful postures. However, students are accustomed to it and rarely look up to appreciate the beauty of the proportions presented by the branches. We hope to invite experts to share tree species and wood characteristics with students to determine which trees are suitable for making pens. It is hoped that through this course, students can get closer to the woods, slow down their pace, observe the patterns of dead branches on the ground, and collect the most pleasing ones to bring back for making. In the process of choosing, cut out a section of branches that has the best visual experience and is in line with the proportions of the hand-feeling lines. During the process, I also felt the same material with different textures and color changes from untreated rough bark to treated smooth surface. I also used the cut wood chips to make hand-made paper to experience another possibility of wood. Finally, I used a branch pen to write on the homemade hand-made paper to feel the warmth and roughness of the hand-made work. We hope that through the lesson plan "The Power of Wood, Paper, and Pen", students can experience the beauty of the proportions, textures, and colors of branches. It also combines natural science and environmental education to enable students to have a cross-field perspective and to value and care for our natural environment. Through the making of branch pens, students can learn to design ways to solve life problems through the process of brainstorming and hands-on attempts. Echoing the core competencies of the 12-year national education, "Have the ability to plan and execute plans, explore and develop diverse professional knowledge, enrich life experience, and exert an innovative spirit to respond to social changes and enhance personal flexibility and adaptability."