Project Report

Project Narrative

Title: Ningxia Pastry Category: Local Specialties URL: http://www.yellowsheepriver.com/~nx000030 School: Taole NO.1 Middle School, Pingluo count, Ningxia Municipality, China.

Classes and Teachers: Mrs.Yan Yueqin, Mr. Liu Guoyuan

E-mail contact: candyuan_liu@hotmail.com

Project Overview

Description of "Our Community"

Ningxia is one of the cradles of Chinese culture. There were human beings even in Paleolithic Age that is 300,000 years ago in Ningxia. Shuidonggou relics tell us a mysterious story happened a long time ago. After Zhang Qian, a West Han Dynasty envoy, traveled to western regions, the Silk Road went through Ningxia where became an important joint point of traffic and trade between west and east of China. One thousand years after that, Yuan Hao, leader of Dangxiang people (Tanguts) established West Xia which lasted for 200 years.

Mountain, Liupan Mountain called green pearl in Loess Plateau, famous Shapotou, beautiful Laolong Pool, grand Yellow Rive and Sha Lake formed Ningxia's colorful natural scenery. Ningxia is the merging place of culture in the great bend of Yellow River and Silk Road. The merging created the culture of West Xia, Islam and the straightforward frontier fortress character. Ningxia is lustering for the rock caves, murals in Helan Mountain, tombs of West Xia, magnificent Nanguan Mosque, Lamasery pagodas and relic of Great Wall.

Summary of Our Project

The local food of Ningxia Province is special for its combination of styles of traditional central plains and Muslim. Yellow River carp cooked with sugar and vinegar, pigeon cooked with fish and steamed mutton are the characteristic food of Ningxia. After discussion, we decided to choose paste food as our subject. In the project we introduce the origin, material, types and cuisine, displaying the characteristics of Ningxia paste food and helping it spread all over the world.

Our Computer/Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home: 2 B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom: None C. Connection speed used in the classroom: None D. Number of years your classroom has been connected to the Internet: None E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional): we have to go to our teacher's home for surfing.  As the neighbor of our teacher knows about

Problems We Had to Overcome

Firstly, we have no experience of such activity. But with the help of the friends in Town and Talent, we finally complete the project successfully.

Secondly, we don't have ample time. It was mid October, when we knew we could participate in the Fair and we had no idea what to do until communicating with Liu Guoyuan from Town and Talent several times. Then we had our team and set the subject after discussion with Liu.

Thirdly, communication condition is poor. We communicated once a week via chatting software and at other time our teacher Miss Yan contacted Liu with Email. Sometimes the chatting software was not stable and we had to talk through the phone. Fourthly, every time we went to make research Miss Yan herself paid for the expenses and she often bought paste food for us. the expenses and she often bought paste food for us.

Our Project Sound Bite

There were so many first times in the process of building our website. It was the first time we used digital camera, chatted on the internet, built website, wrote stories and took part in such grand activity. We get better knowledge of ourselves -- there is nothing impossible only if we have determination and resolution. Taking part in the project really benefits us a lot.

Project Elements

How did your activities and research for this International Schools CyberFair project support content standards, required coursework and curriculum requirements?

To build our website, we collect material relating to history, geography, art, culture and we have improved computer and interpersonal skills. We have learned many stories of the paste food and how to make plans and timetable. The entire above are complements to our classroom lessons. Furthermore, in the process we encouraged each other and highlighted and enhanced friendship and teamwork spirit. And we have known how to help others.

What information tools and technologies did you use to complete your International Schools CyberFair project?

(1) Hardware facilities: computer, digital camera, recorder.

(2) Computer software: Dreamweaver for webpage editing, PhotoImpact for graphic processing, Microsoft Word for textual information editing, Outlook Express for receiving and sending mails, Internet Explorer for browsing website, ACDSee for image browsing, CuteFtp and UC chatting software .

(3) Internet: E-mail, message board, FTP server, dedicated connected.

International Schools CyberFair project both on-line and in person. We are very pleased to spread Ningxia paste food as Community Ambassador. We make research in different people, our school mates, villagers and old persons, with the questionnaire as the tool. To make more people know more about paste food, we put the research result on our website.

What has been or will be the impact of your project on your community?

We have a better knowledge of the paste food and its importance. After the research, we feel Nixingxia paste food has so many kinds and cuisines and contains long history and culture that it should be definitely spread to more people even to the world.

We are a special team that has extraordinary confidence and perseverance. We believe in 'no pain no gain' and our friendship has deepened. With the passion we are able to overcome any difficulties. Furthermore, whenever we came across problems, there were always support and help with us.

How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?

All the contents on our website are edited and marshaled by our team after referring to relative books and historic material. All the books are listed in the reference list. The photos are all taken by us with digital camera.

Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

We have known more about paste food and some stories we never heard of. We are never so close to paste food. We have improved the ability of cooperation and communicating. We have realized the importance of forgiveness and encouragement as we are striving for the same object. At the same time, we deeply understand the saying 'Confidence is the first step on the road to success!