September 1 to 30.2006
Sony Science Education Program for Children & SSTA
Thank you for the numerous essay applications!
---We have now stopped accepting essays---
The submission of essays for Sony Science Education Program for Children was closed on Monday, September 4th.
This year, we received 174 essays from 35 prefectures across the country.
Although the number of essays was almost the same as last year's 170, 40% of all participating schools were new to the program, showing the expansion of the interests.
The essays are now under review, and the results will be announced in December. We will post the results on the foundation website.
Science Education Program for Children website:
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/science/
National Convention to be held at Matsugae-Kita Elementary School (Fukuoka Prefecture) soon!
The National Convention will be held as follows at Matsugae-Kita Elementary School in Kita-Kyushu City, which was chosen to be the Best Project School of 2005.
- Date: October 13th (Friday), 2006
- Time: 9:10 (reception desk opens at 8:30)
- Place: Matsugae-Kita Elementary School, Kita-Kyushu City
- Subject: Education at Matsugae-Kita, learning from each other
- See, touch, write, and discuss. Correlation between science/life environment studies and Japanese language-
Following the open class and research presentations, the poster exhibition of the 19 selected schools of 2006 will be held. In the afternoon, a discussion forum will be held with the teachers of the host school, and other schools from all over the country. Also, a memorial lecture will be held by Mr.Yasushi Mitarai, the jury president of the program and also the chairperson of the University of the Air Foundation (former Parliamentary Secretary of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology)
For details of the national convention see:
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/science/taikai/2006.html
Sony Preschool Education Program for Children
67 Essay Applications!
On September 19th, Tuesday, we have stopped accepting the essays for the year 2006. This year, we received 67 essays from 21 prefectures. The essays are now being reviewed and the results will be announced in mid December.
We started an e-mail newsletter about preschool education!
The inaugural issue "Newsletter- Our Scientific Mind" will be released on September 29th.
Every month, we plan to provide articles and information appropriate for the seasons.
You can now sign up for the newsletter at the url below!
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/index.html
Web Magazine: "Did you see that!? Scientific Mind" vol. 33, 34
- Vol.33: "Interacting with Nature" Actively experiencing nature.
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/webmagazine/webmag33.html - vol.34: "I want to know" the joy of thinking and discovering with friends.
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/webmagazine/webmag34.html - The 2 topics for next month are as follows.
"Fly" How far did it fly? Which one flew?
"Trial and Error"- Scientific Mind that supports the inner strength which realizes ideas
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/webmagazine/index.html
New Project: Case examples of age 0 to 2!
Some of you must be wondering "Scientific mind at age 0 to 2??"
Pleas join us in thinking about what we can see in children age 0 to 2, when considering their growth from age 3 to 5 and beyond.
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/jirei/youji.html
- Age 0 - Squirt from a hose/ Want to touch it, want to do it
- Age 1 - Going in! /the beetle! /I always wanted to touch a beetle!
- Age 2 - Roll the ball/ yo-yo with colored water/ play with rain/ from seeing a larva/ raising Chinese cabbage/ worms in Chinese cabbage
Project Report Presentation will be held on October 28th (Sat) and November 2nd (Thu)
These will be the last Project Report Presentations (by a Kindergarten or Nursery with an excellent project) this year!
October 28th (Sat) - Hokuryou Kindergarten (Shimane Prefecture)
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/jissen/index.html
November 2nd (Thu) - Sumiyoshi Kindergarten of Kariya City (Aichi Prefecture)
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/jissen/2006/sumiyoshi_info.html
Application deadline: October 2nd (Mon), 2006
Applied Preschool Research Workshops will be held on October 21st (Sat)
This will be the last Applied Preschool Research Workshop (by a Kindergarten or Nursery with an excellent project) this year!
Date/Time: October 21st (Sat) 14:00-16:30
Shimasaka Nursery, Okazaki City/ Midorigaoka Nursery, Okazaki City (Airchi Prefecture)
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/kenkyu/2006/okazaki_info.html
Report
Here is a report on the research workshop held at Chuo Nursery/ Chuo Kindergarten (Shimane Prefecture) on July 1st. Please take a look.
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/kenkyu/2006/chuou.html
Wellspring of Science Inspiration---Children's Schoolhouse of Dreams
We are currently making the report for the 5 day activities in the Wellspring of Science Inspirations (August 14 ~ 18) so it could be viewed on our website in October. We plan to report to you about: each group's research themes in the main activity "Learn from the Nature"; the experiment with the conductive plastic, which was done in a different way from last year; the 3 selective assignments (Marble stirling engine, wind-powered electricity, sound and light).
We are now also planning the next year's activities. We have taken questionnaires from the students, parents, and instructors, and plan to utilize the information to improve next year's activities.
