What are the uses of paper-cutting in primary school labor class?

On the Cultivation of Innovation Ability in Paper-cutting Classes in Primary Schools

Mr. Chen Heqin, my country’s famous children’s educator, once said: “Children should have the opportunity to cut paper.” He believes that paper-cutting has two aspects The benefits: "First, you can develop a good habit of spending time alone, and second, you can practice hand tendons." In other words, paper-cutting can make children calm down and concentrate on doing one thing; it can also help them develop a pair of dexterous hands. , and manual dexterity often means mind, because the training of hand muscle groups is conducive to the development of the brain. Paper-cutting has extraordinary significance as a supplement to primary school labor skills classes.

In Chinese characters, the pictographic meaning of "scissors" is "there is a knife in front of the knife". The ancients also called scissors "dragon knives", which shows their importance in life. The long-standing folk art of paper-cutting proves the long history of scissors in China. In primary school paper-cutting classes, a small pair of scissors not only allows students to use their hands, but also cultivates students' innovative and creative abilities. How to use this small pair of scissors to maximize students' imagination and creativity, the author made the following attempts in the four links of appreciation, imitation, creation, and display of the paper-cutting class.

1 Reasonable guidance to stimulate interest in innovation

1.1 Classified collection

Collect and select paper-cut works suitable for students' appreciation level, and adopt different methods according to different appreciation forms. Different guidance methods help students understand, feel, and discover the beauty in works, which is the basis for cultivating students to express beauty and create beauty in paper-cutting teaching.

Since the author likes paper-cutting very much, I pay great attention to collecting knowledge about paper-cutting and paper-cutting patterns. Assign tasks to students before class and ask them to go home and read books or search for information to understand the history, uses, types, geographical distribution characteristics, etc. of paper-cutting. In teaching, we focus on guiding students to discover the beauty of form and content in paper-cut works through active participation.

For example, in the activity of appreciating paper-cut "face makeup", the author shows a realistic face makeup and a paper-cut face makeup, and guides students to actively discuss the differences between the two masks and compare them in terms of color, pattern, and material. In this way, you can feel the bold and eclectic expression of paper-cut works, and understand the hollowing out of patterns and the symmetry of patterns. In addition, it was also asked: "What are the differences between the facial features of the two masks?" Let students feel the characteristics of the masks through observation and analysis, thereby improving the quality of their aesthetic activities. Finally, students are asked to boldly express their true feelings and say what they like Which face mask encourages students to express different opinions and improve students' value judgment level and aesthetic ability.

1.2 Clever guidance

By collecting materials and broadening the teaching content, students' interest in paper-cutting learning was greatly stimulated. Students are always very interested in things they don’t understand or know. However, the content in primary school labor and technology textbooks, except for some pictures of the production process, is just some text descriptions, which are clear at a glance, and it is difficult to arouse students’ interest. If the teacher introduces the students to some knowledge that they do not understand, the history of the text, pictures, and some real objects, the students' interest will be aroused immediately.

When teaching paper-cutting, a variety of paper-cutting pictures are displayed on the screen through multimedia courseware, from ancient to modern, from simple to complex, and finally provide exquisite pictures worth collecting. Paper-cutting, while students appreciate paper-cutting, introduce the history of paper-cutting. The exquisite pictures opened the eyes of the students, and from time to time they exclaimed, "It's so beautiful!" "It's amazing!" At this time, their enthusiasm had been mobilized, so they seized the opportunity and asked: "Students, what do you think after seeing so many beautiful pictures?" Many students said: "I just want to know how to do it." ”

Through these large-scale displays of traditional and modern paper-cut art, students have generally received strong visual impact and shock. At this time, students have a certain understanding of the history and form of paper-cutting. In this way, through reasonable guidance, students' awareness of innovation appreciation is exercised, and students' imagination, composition, expression and creative abilities are improved.

2 Step by step, promote innovation ability

2.1 Simple imitation stage

In the beginner stage, paper-cutting teaching mainly focuses on simple "imitation", starting with Begin by getting familiar with paper-cutting tools and learning to use them, training students' ability to work together with their eyes, brain, and hands, and experiencing the paper-cutting process in an all-round way. Then they learn to cut basic patterns and master the basic vocabulary of paper-cutting, namely zigzag patterns, crescent patterns, Swirl patterns, wavy patterns, etc. After mastering the basic patterns, you can then start copying simple single paper-cut patterns, and start pattern training with main objects in due course. During the teaching process, focus on explaining to students the starting and falling cuts and the locations that need to be connected. Cut the outer outline first, then cut small and complex areas. The pattern and area of ??the hollows in the picture should be changed, etc. Only through repeated practice can one be able to cut natural and smooth lines, skillfully control scissors and paper, and express oneself as one wishes, laying a solid foundation for the next stage of learning.

2.2 Creative Imitation Stage

The second stage is the creative imitation stage. Paper-cutting teaching mainly focuses on "modification". In each teaching, students will be provided with a picture on the blackboard. The appearance of the theme image leaves a lot of creative space for students, and then guides students to further improve it through adding, combining, changing paintings and other methods to make the content richer and the composition more complete.

Give students enough room for imagination, which is conducive to cultivating students' creativity. Specifically: During the teaching process, teachers should encourage students to think freely, expand their thinking, and seek different forms of expression. Don't impose your own ideas on students, let alone give students a model for their paintings and works, using the book as a standard.

When learning about fish paper-cutting, students were not asked to copy at the beginning. Instead, students were asked to fully use their imagination to make various fish appear in their minds. Whether it is something they see in real life or on TV, first let students express it in their own way. At this time, the teacher gives timely guidance, and the students' creativity is stimulated. This requires students to use their imagination freely and make things they are familiar with or like, whether they are concrete or abstract works. They are not subject to specific restrictions, and their thoughts fly across time and space, as if they have returned to their happy childhood. It is this flight that inspires students' creativity. From characters, animals, food, and things to use, they are all different and diverse, fully demonstrating the miracle of creation. ?

3 Migrate thinking and master innovative methods

Einstein believed that “imagination is more important than knowledge, because knowledge is limited, but imagination summarizes everything and promotes progress. source". Creation cannot be separated from imagination, and innovation must be based on imagination: only by enriching students' imagination and allowing students to spread the wings of imagination can students' innovation ability be improved. Therefore, when teaching, students should be encouraged to dare to imagine, dare to innovate, dare to imagine outside the routine, and encourage unconventional imagination. In the labor and technology class textbooks, hand-cut paper-cutting is a good place to train students to expand their imagination and cultivate innovative thinking. Therefore, when teaching, we must be good at exploring creative and imaginative content in teaching materials, stimulate different thinking, encourage students to actively explore knowledge, and solve problems creatively from multiple aspects, angles, and creativity.

3.1 Transfer of thinking and inspire imagination

On the basis of guiding students to analyze the works, we encourage students to design, conceive and create different works.

(1) Graphic transfer: For example: in the lesson of cutting out the word "hi", students use method one and method two to cut out the word "hi". After cutting out the word "hi", students can be asked to think: whether they can combine the two methods in Together? Can the shape and combination be changed? Through operation and practice, students created works with the word "Xi" in different shapes. These unique works relieved students' mental pressure on paper-cut creation and developed their innovative thinking abilities. When they see the works created by themselves, their self-confidence will double, their minds will become more flexible, and their interest will become higher and higher.

(2) Reference and migration: Because various arts are interlinked, especially other visual arts can be integrated and absorbed with paper-cut art. Although paper-cut art has its own unique language and compositional characteristics, it will become its own unique personal style and appearance by absorbing nutrients from other arts.

In teaching, students are required to collect their favorite pictures (including Chinese paintings, oil paintings, clay sculptures, shadow puppets, photography, prints, etc.) through the computer network or other channels. During class, the teacher first asks students to work in groups on a certain piece of art. Discussion: According to the characteristics of paper-cutting, which part do you think we can absorb, which part should be discarded, which part can add other content, etc. Then, based on the various opinions discussed by the students, the teacher conducts creative demonstrations based on artistic images and points out points of attention. Students will learn some tips through creative learning, which not only reduces the difficulty of their creation, but also allows them to learn how to absorb various Various methods of art lay a good foundation for the cultivation of students' personality and the formation of work style.

(3) Function migration: Because of its decorative, ideological and interesting characteristics, folk paper-cutting was originally used in daily life, such as women's shoe flowers, bellyband flowers, and festive flowers. Fireworks, etc. However, in modern society, these functions of paper-cutting have been greatly reduced. Especially in our southern region, it can be said that there is no place for it. As a result, students' interest in learning paper-cutting will not be very strong. In order to change this situation, after the students have acquired a solid basic skill in paper-cutting, the author inspired the students: If we buy a lot of books, in order to make souvenirs and decorations for our books, can we use paper-cutting? At this time, the students were excited and eager to ask the teacher to provide guidance in this area of ??knowledge, and then guide them in designing and creating according to the students' enthusiasm. When holidays or elders’ birthdays are approaching, students are inspired to use their paper-cutting skills to decorate their relatives, friends, and homes. Then the students come up with the idea of ??designing New Year’s cards, window grilles, etc. When they encounter difficulties, they will be solved in a targeted manner. When these works are appreciated by relatives, friends and family members, students will be more confident and enthusiastic.

3.2 Integration of resources, innovative imagination

In teaching, in addition to exploring content in teaching materials that can unleash students' imagination, teachers can also make use of students' existing knowledge, experience, and skills Make innovative productions without limitations or fixed patterns.

(1) Use cartoon images. In the craft paper-cutting class, some cartoon characters that students like are often cut out, such as Pleasant Goat, Big Big Wolf, Kitty Cat, Jingle Cat, etc. as class rewards. The combination of paper-cutting art and cartoon images not only attracts students' interest, but also incorporates various paper-cutting techniques. Some students with outstanding performance received paper-cut cartoon images as rewards from the teacher and carefully kept them like treasures; many other students also cut out their favorite cartoon images in paper-cut form and showed them to me very proudly. I took the opportunity to provide careful guidance and timely encouragement. According to the age and personality characteristics of primary school students, with the help of their favorite cartoon images, the students' love for paper-cutting art and the cultivation of innovative ability are further deepened.

(2) With the help of literary works. In order to enrich students' imagination in paper-cut creation, I use literary works to inspire students' creation, and students create freely based on the contents of literary works. For example, if students have learned "Crows Drinking Water" in Chinese class, I first ask students to retell it After giving an overview of the story, and then asking them to tell the characteristics of the crow, the students rushed to raise their hands to speak proactively. The classroom atmosphere was enthusiastic and their interest in learning was high. At this time, the students were asked to create in the form of paper-cutting according to the images and storylines of these animals. With a little guidance from the teacher, the students were able to cut out images of small animals of different shapes. Some even cut out the background and cleverly cut out The connection between the animals and the background, and each work also adds its own emotional color and romantic elements on the basis of closely following the text.

Poems, stories, fables, prose, etc. in Chinese textbooks are all good subjects for paper-cut creation. Paper-cutting can stimulate students' creativity and imagination by combining with them.

(3) With the help of musical image. Due to the abstract nature of music, people can make associations when listening to music. With the ups and downs of the music rhythm, the feelings and scenes in front of them are constantly changing, and people's emotions are also constantly changing. Paper-cutting teaching mainly uses thematic situations in music to create interesting artistic images.

For example, in the creative class "Little Bird", the suona solo "A Hundred Birds Pay Attention to the Phoenix" was played, and students were asked to imagine based on the content of the song. After listening to the song carefully, the students were very excited. , and then ask students to interpret the bird images they see in real life.

With the foundation laid, the students immediately started their artistic conception. Through drawing and cutting, they created groups of lively and cute bird works with different appearances.

Art is interlinked. Through the organic combination of music and paper-cutting teaching, students can feel the beauty of different arts, and at the same time, it also stimulates their desire for creative innovation.

(4) With the help of paper-cut folk songs. "A stack of thin paper, a pair of small scissors, and the scissors move to make patterns. The embroidery patterns of big and small girls depend on the pattern. There are all kinds of flowers, birds, insects, and fish. It doesn't matter if the patterns are not arranged neatly. When I take the red paper in my hand, I can make any pattern. I can cut it. The flying birds in the sky, the galloping horses on the ground, and the fat-headed fish in the water. As long as I can tell clearly, I can cut it if I choose a pattern. If I want to tell it quietly, I must have a pattern in my mind, big and small. Let’s explain it clearly, and come back in the Ming Dynasty to take a look..."

This is a catchy paper-cut ballad, commonly known as "The Sutra of Flowers." Its relationship with paper-cutting is like the poetry of Chinese painting, which complements each other. From the Pattern Classic, we can experience the fun of paper-cutting, understand the skills of paper-cutting, and feel the culture contained in paper-cutting. Elementary school students especially like the song format, which is catchy. Paper-cutting and folk songs are like sisters from the same mother. In the creations of working people, they both invisibly apply the creative rules of ancient aesthetics, such as homophony, metaphor, repetition, exaggeration, personification, parallelism and other techniques. They have different approaches but the same purpose, so it is said: paper-cutting It is a wordless song. I hope we can continue to sing it from generation to generation.

4 Carefully arranged, feel the fun of innovation

British playwright Bernard Shaw once said: "If you have an apple and I have an apple, and we exchange apples with each other, then you We still have one apple each. But if you have one thought and I have one thought, and we exchange these thoughts with each other, then each of us will have two thoughts.” Therefore, teachers must be creative. Provide students with time and space to display their work and give them the opportunity to exchange techniques and ideas.

4.1 Decorate the environment and create an atmosphere

We have posted decorative paper-cut works made by students on the walls of the classroom, including various traffic signs and signs made by students using various papers. Other paper-cut works; there are abundant paper-cut materials and students' works in the corner of the activity area, and students can operate and play freely. The layout of these paper-cut art environments allows children to be immersed in the scene and feel the interesting and joyful atmosphere. Through teachers, they can enter the students' creative world, stimulate students' interest in discovery, exploration, and creation, and improve their ability to feel beauty.

4.2 Return to life and serve the society

Training and technical education advocates strengthening the connection between labor and technical courses and students’ lives and real society, so as to realize the daily life, socialization and practicality of the courses. Every year during the Double Ninth Festival, we organize students to go to nursing homes to express condolences, send fruits, and send greetings. In addition to these, we can also send children's works, frame the good paper-cut works, and then take them to the nursing home to hang the children's carefully crafted works in the corridors and rooms to decorate their lives. For another example, at the school's first flea market, the children set up stalls on the spot to display their usual paper-cut works. When their works became the objects that students rushed to buy, the children felt the praise from their classmates and experienced to the sense of accomplishment of paper-cutting. The children's talents have been demonstrated, and after being recognized, they will definitely be inspired to create more innovative works.

Paper-cutting, in a sense, has become a symbol of Chinese culture. It not only expresses the honest and timeless sentiments and customs of the Chinese nation, but also incorporates Chinese people’s thoughts, emotions and judgments of good and evil. We hope that through paper-cutting teaching, our students will fall in love with paper-cutting, inherit this cultural tradition, and allow our children to use innovative thinking to give new vitality to paper-cutting.

References

[1] Characteristics and techniques of paper-cut art.

[2] Today’s China Teaching and Research.2009.2.?