Exploring the Doctoral Steles with students of class 7A9, Khương Thượng Lower Secondary School

EXPLORING THE DOCTORAL STELES WITH STUDENTS OF CLASS 7A9, KHƯƠNG THƯỢNG LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL

Students of Class 7A9, Trường THCS Khương Thượng, took part in a heritage education program themed "Discovering Fascinating Facts about the Doctoral Steles" at Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám. More than just a field trip, the program was designed as a vibrant experiential learning session, helping the students engage more deeply with the values of the nation's cultural heritage.

As part of the activities, the students explored the system of Doctoral Steles — stone steles inscribed with the names of talented individuals across the dynasties. Through interactive learning, the students actively asked questions and discovered topics such as the number of steles, the distinguished figures whose names are engraved on them, the significance of the decorative patterns, and the symbolic value of the Doctoral Steles in relation to the nation's tradition of reverence for learning and esteem for talent.

The highlight of the program was the hands-on experience of printing Chinese characters onto giấy dó using woodblocks. Under the guidance of education staff, the students personally practiced printing the characters "Minh," "Chí," "Đức," "Tâm," and others. Through this activity, they not only appreciated the beauty of traditional art but also gained a deeper understanding of the meaning of study and self-cultivation.

Reflecting on the activity, Ms. Đỗ Thị Hiên — Secretary of the History Teachers' Youth Union Cell — described the session as "meaningful, beneficial, and well-aligned with the Grade 7 curriculum."

Ms. Trần Diệu Hương — homeroom teacher of Class 7A9 — also expressed her pride at seeing the students learn directly at the heritage site. She shared: "This is an incredibly unforgettable and emotional memory. Today, the students did not only receive lessons within the confines of a classroom — they also had the chance to experience the heritage of their homeland. Through this, they felt the value of history, and learned to preserve and protect the cultural heritage of the capital and the nation. These are the values that every educator aspires to impart."

Many students expressed their enthusiasm after the program. They shared that they not only gained additional historical knowledge but also had the opportunity to experience it firsthand, deepening their love for their homeland, strengthening their commitment to learning, and raising their awareness of the responsibility to preserve heritage.

The program concluded on a highly positive note, contributing to the spread of the spirit of learning and nurturing a sense of heritage stewardship among today's younger generation.

The students listening to an introduction on the history and value of the Doctoral Steles

The students actively observing and exploring the value of the Doctoral Steles

The students exchanging information with education staff following their survey

The students experiencing woodblock printing of the character "Phúc"

The students experiencing printing of the character "Đức"

Each student brought home a meaningful keepsake from the experience