To strengthen public support for local agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture has enacted the Food and Agricultural Education Act and assisted schools at all levels in carrying out food and agricultural education through hands-on learning experiences and practical activities. It also promotes the practical use of teaching materials on domestic agricultural products in classrooms.Taiwan Seed Improvement and Propagation Station (TSIPS) has developed an educational yet entertaining food and agricultural teaching module themed around potatoes, including the “Potato Plant Puzzle” and the “Potato Treasure Board Game.” Through edutainment and interactive teaching design, learners are guided to understand the life cycle of potatoes, while enhancing the effectiveness of learning and willingness to participate in food and agricultural education.

TSIPS stated that potatoes can be used as either a vegetable or a staple food, and can also be processed into a variety of products such as French fries, potato chips, and starch. They are nutritious and convenient to eat. At present, Taiwan has nearly 3,000 hectares devoted to potato cultivation. Each year, TSIPS produces healthy seed potatoes and supplies them to farmers’ associations, cooperatives, and farms across the country, making it an important supplier for domestic potato production. In order to help students better understand the production process of domestically grown potatoes, TSIPS developed this potato-themed food and agricultural teaching module.

To better meet teaching needs, TSIPS developed the “Potato Treasure Board Game” and “Potato Plant Puzzle” in line with the most needed teaching topic for promoters, namely “agricultural production and the environment.” These interactive teaching materials help learners gain a deeper understanding of potato plant characteristics, cultivation and production processes, common diseases, storage methods, as well as related culinary uses and nutritional value.

TSIPS pointed out that the potato food and agricultural teaching module has already been promoted to elementary and junior high schools, farms, communities, and private organizations in central Taiwan, providing teachers and food and agricultural education promoters with practical materials for classroom use. According to user feedback, the module not only helps educators quickly grasp key teaching points, but also effectively deepens learners’ understanding of potatoes, further increasing educators’ willingness to engage in food and agricultural education. Compared with traditional teaching methods, this module can also effectively overcome problems such as insufficient classroom teaching resources and limitations in teaching scenarios, reduce preparation time for teaching materials, and enhance students’ interest in learning, demonstrating high acceptance and practical value.

TSIPS added that it will continue to develop more diverse food and agricultural teaching modules featuring different crops in the future, so as to provide schools, farms, communities, and private organizations with resources for promotion and practical application. In doing so, it aims to further deepen food and agricultural education for the public and promote the sustainable development of Taiwan’s healthy food and agriculture industry chain.

▲Fig1. TSIPS developed the “Potato Plant Puzzle”		▲Fig2. TSIPS developed the “Potato Treasure Board Game”
▲Fig3. Teacher uses the “Potato Treasure Board Game” in class to help students learn about the life cycle of potatoes		▲Fig4. Students work hands-on with the “Potato Plant Puzzle” to learn about the characteristics of potatoes