STEM girl workshop: Conical hat of Vietnam
The Women in STEM Conical Hat Workshop held at Gia Thanh Secondary School - Gia Thanh Commune - Phù Ninh District, Phú Thọ Province took place on December 23, 2023. The workshop was led by Ms. Đào Thị Hồng Quyên, Engineer Đỗ Hoàng Sơn, Ms. Trần Thanh Tâm, and Principal Ngô Ngọc Thụy. The main activities included: visiting the Conical Hat STEM room, interacting with conical hat artisan Triệu Thị Nhường; exploring the conical hat from mathematical, scientific, and engineering perspectives; discussing the role of women and girls in preserving and enhancing traditional values; the role of STEM education in innovating and spreading traditional values; and experiential activities for students.
Igniting a passion for science from a long-standing tradition
With the desire to ignite a passion for science and inspire the younger generation, especially female students, the school chose the theme “Conical Hat”—a unique cultural heritage of Vietnam—as the main focus for the workshop. The conical hat is not only a symbol of the graceful beauty of Vietnamese women but also contains rich scientific, technical, and artistic values.
A journey of exploring cultural heritage through the lens of STEM
The workshop featured lively and informative activities, taking students on a journey to explore the conical hat from a new and fascinating STEM perspective.
Visiting the Conical Hat STEM Room: This space showcased models and STEM tools simulating the traditional conical hat-making process. Students directly experienced activities such as leaf pressing, hat drying, frame making, and hat edging under the guidance of teachers.
Interacting with conical hat artisan Triệu Thị Nhường: Artisan Nhường, with over 40 years dedicated to the craft, shared stories of her profession, secrets of hat making, and concerns about preserving and promoting the value of this cultural heritage. The sincere and passionate sharing of the artisan inspired students, awakening a sense of pride in their cultural heritage.
The conical hat from a scientific and technical perspective
The conical hat is explored from the geometric perspective of the hat, the application of physics in making the conical hat, hat-making techniques, various eco-friendly materials, and the application of information technology in promoting the conical hat.
The role of women and girls in preserving and enhancing traditional values
The conical hat has long been a symbol of the graceful beauty of Vietnamese women. And it is these women who play a leading role in preserving and passing on the craft of making conical hats through generations.
They are talented artisans, directly crafting exquisite conical hats, bearing the cultural imprint of their homeland. With skillful hands and meticulousness, they carefully go through each step, from selecting leaves, processing them, creating frames, sewing edges, to decorating patterns.
More than just a handicraft, making conical hats is also a way for women to showcase their creativity and pride in the cultural identity of their nation. They not only preserve the traditional craft but also infuse soul into each hat, turning them into unique works of art. Girls are the next generation to uphold this unique cultural value. They learn from their grandmothers, mothers, and help their families.
The mothers and grandmothers of the conical hat crafting village of Gia Thanh
The role of STEM education in innovation and spreading traditional values
STEM education plays a crucial role in innovation and spreading traditional values, contributing to preserving the cultural identity of the nation in the modern era.
Through creative teaching methods that integrate knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, STEM education helps students explore cultural heritage from a fresh perspective, thereby igniting passion and national pride.
Students are encouraged to apply STEM knowledge to innovate and develop traditional values, while effectively introducing cultural heritage to younger generations and international friends.
Furthermore, STEM education helps raise community awareness of the importance of preserving and promoting traditional values, contributing to building a civilized, modern society while still preserving the cultural identity of the nation.
STEM activities with the theme of Conical Hats
One of the engaging experiential activities that caught the attention of students was exploring the interesting applications of conical shapes in science and engineering.
Constructing cone-shaped grasping devices:
Under the guidance of teachers, students were provided with materials such as paper, cardboard, glue, paper clips, etc., to construct cone-shaped grasping devices. Working in teams, students collaborated smoothly and creatively to create unique and effective cone-shaped grasping devices.
Creating cones from flat shapes:
This activity helped students explore the relationship between flat shapes and cones. Students were provided with pre-cut flat shapes and instructed on how to create cones from these shapes. Through this activity, students gained a better understanding of the geometric structure of conical hats and honed their logical and creative thinking skills.
