From “A Grain of Rice in Baodun” to “Ten Thousand Acres of Smart Farmland”: Integrating Tianfu Agricultural Culture into Research-Based Learning for Primary and Secondary Education

Abstract

Tianfu agricultural culture, as a core representation of agrarian civilization in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, embodies rich historical heritage, including the origins of rice cultivation in Baodun, the hydraulic engineering wisdom of Dujiangyan, and the ecological settlement patterns of Linpan in western Sichuan. Against the backdrop of the rapid development of research-based learning, the organic integration of Tianfu agricultural culture into research-based learning practices for primary and secondary school students not only facilitates the dynamic transmission of China’s fine traditional culture but also represents an innovative pathway for fulfilling the fundamental educational task of fostering virtue through education. Building upon a systematic review of the core connotations and educational value of Tianfu agricultural culture, this study, in conjunction with the current development status and representative cases of research-based learning in Sichuan Province, examines the logic and mechanisms underpinning their integration from three dimensions: curriculum design, theoretical framework, and practical pathways. In response to existing challenges—such as underdeveloped curriculum systems, insufficiently trained teaching staff, and a lack of endogenous motivation within practice bases—this paper proposes a series of strategic recommendations. These include constructing a tiered and progressive curriculum system characterized by integrative approaches, cultivating a professionalized teaching workforce, developing regionally distinctive research-based learning brands, and strengthening collaborative educational mechanisms among schools, families, and communities.