From champion spirit and qiaopi culture to debate and AI-powered imagination, students from Shantou Jinsha Primary School recently attended a rooted, soulful and heartfelt lesson themed "Ancient Banyan Embraces the World, Five-fold Education Nurtures Original Aspiration" under a century-old banyan tree in Dajiao Village.

During the class, teachers presented a precious historical photograph featuring Li Hongping, Li Deliang and Li Qiaoxian, whose images inspired the Three-body Statue, a cultural landmarkin Shantou. They once trained diligently under the banyan tree and eventually became world diving champions. The fine qualities forged by generations of champions under the tree canopy, including diligence, perseverance, enterprising spirit, hometown devotion and patriotism, provided a vivid introduction to the lesson.

After reflecting on the champion spirit, students were presented with a practical question: "If a road construction project encounters an ancient tree standing in its path, should priority be given to building the road or protecting the tree?"

The class was divided into two debating teams with heated exchanges. The pro side argued that ancient trees are irreplaceable and roads could be rerouted around them, while the con side maintained that roads mattered to people's livelihood and trees could be scientifically transplanted. The teacher commented that development and protection never contradicted each other. In Shantou, builders chose to divert roads for ancient trees to realize harmony between urban development and ecology, the core meaning of the "Green and Beautiful Shantou" initiative.

Although the debate produced no winners or losers, it helped students understand the importance of ecological priority and green development through critical thinking. As the discussion concluded, the tune of "Brewing Tea Under the Moon" rang out, and students performed the short stage play"Awaiting Overseas Letters in the Banyan Shade". A qiaopi posted from Siam carried the line "Where the tree stands, home remains; where the roots stay, affection endures", touching all the teachers and students present.

The class also featured interaction with artificial intelligence. Several students displayed future-themed banyan paintings created with AI drawing tools: residents chatting beneath its shade after shopping at the market, old buildings transformed into new homes while the tree remained carefully preserved, and the banyan tree continuing to pass on the champion spirit embodied by the statue. The fusion of youthful imagination and technology became a heartfelt expression of their love for their hometown.

在百年古榕树下品读侨批故事

从冠军精神到侨批乡愁，从思辨辩论到AI畅想，日前，汕头市金砂小学的孩子们在大窖百年古榕树下，上了一堂“有根、有魂、有情”的课——“古树容天地，五育润初心”。

课堂上，老师展示了一张珍贵老照片——汕头文化地标“三身人”雕塑的原型人物“金砂三李”（李宏平、李德亮、李巧贤）当年也曾在榕树下刻苦训练，最终成为世界跳水冠军。一代代冠军在榕荫下磨砺出的精神：吃苦耐劳、持之以恒、奋勇争先、扎根乡土、逐梦报国，成为这堂课的生动开篇。

感悟了冠军精神后，一个现实问题摆在了孩子们面前：“城市修路遇到古树挡在中间，该优先修路，还是优先保护古树？”

孩子们分成正反两方，展开激烈辩论。正方认为古树不可再生，道路可以绕行；反方主张道路关乎民生，古树可以科学移栽。老师点评道：“发展与保护从不是对立面。在汕头，建设者的选择是——给古树让路，让城市与生态共生共荣。这就是‘绿美汕头’的真正内涵。”

辩论没有输赢，却让孩子们在思辨中懂得了生态优先、绿色发展的深刻道理。辩论的余温未散，《月下煮茶》的旋律就响起，同学们演绎了情景剧《榕荫盼侨批》。一封从暹罗寄回的番批，一句“树在，家就在；根在，情就在”，让台下师生动容。

此外，同学们还在课堂上和AI互动，几位学生展示了课前用AI绘画工具创作的“古树未来畅想图”：古榕下，市民买完菜在树阴下聊天；旧楼变新居，古榕被完好保留；古榕与“三身人”冠军精神薪火相传……童心与科技交织，是对家乡最深情的告白。

文、图 | 记者 蚁璐雅 通讯员 谢泽涛
译｜郑书悦
英文审校｜曾敏