August 1 to 31.2007
The 3rd Wellspring of Science Inspirations - Children's Schoolhouse of Dreams, held at Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture
The Third Wellspring of Science Inspirations was held at "Hakubasou" and its surrounding natural environment in Hakuba Village of Kita-azumi County in Nagano Prefecture. Held between August 13th and 18th of 2007, there were 33 elementary and junior high school students participating from all over Japan. We had clear skies throughout the event, and the extreme heat notwithstanding, all participants were able to enjoy an active five night-six day stay through to the end. In addition, we had the cooperation of Hakuba Junior High School of Hakuba Village, as we used their science classroom for experiments.
At the opening ceremonies held at WING 21 of Hakuba Village, Dr. Shirakawa spoke about the importance and joy of "learning from nature" from the experiences he himself had in elementary school and junior high school collecting plants and butterflies. Not only students, but also their parents and instructors listened on intently.
Actual activities to "learn from nature" started in the afternoon, as the group entered the rich natural environment surrounding the Kinagashi River. The students split into mixed-age groups of five or six people and explored the surrounding waters, fields, rice paddies and forests, each in search of their own "why?". These "why?'s" were brought back and discussed with the group, and each group came up with their own unique topic to pursue for the ensuing five days.
News bulletin continued here (photos attached)
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/news/2007/070830.html
Sony Science Education Program for Children & SSTA
Training Course in Blocks held in four venues throughout Japan
Sony Science Teacher's Association (SSTA) held its Training Course in Blocks in four blocks throughout Japan.
This year, Fukuoka North Branch (Kyushu Block), Nara Branch (West Japan Block), Aichi Branch (Central Japan Block), Tochigi Branch (East Japan Block) were each host to the courses, and two-night, three-day training courses were held with mid-level teachers from each block.
At each of the venues, a variety of distinguished lecturers were invited, including Curriculum Inspection Officers of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), university professors, and instructors from university-affiliated elementary schools. With their help, training courses were very productive, centering mainly around the construction of curricula.
Reports on the details of these training courses will follow.
Reports for the Fukuoka North Branch (Kyushu Block) have already been posted. Please feel free to view their report.
- News bulletin on the Training Course in Blocks
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/news/2007/070820.html - Regarding the Training Course in Blocks
http://www-sec.sony-ef.or.jp/thema/index.html
2008 Training Course schedules and host branches finalized
At the Administrators' Meeting* held simultaneously with the Training Courses in Block, host branches for next year's Young Teacher Training Workshop and Training Course in Block were finalized.
The host branches for each of these events are listed below.
*An annual meeting at which those in charge of administration at each of the branches meet at the venue for Training course in Blocks, and determine the host branches for training sessions and exchange opinions on activities at each of the branches.
- [Young Teacher Training Workshop]
Kyushu Block: Miyazaki Branch / West Japan Block: Okayama Branch
Central Japan block: Ishikawa Branch / Kanto Block: Chiba Branch
Hokkaido, Tohoku Block: Iwate Branch - [Training Course in Blocks]
Kyushu Block: Fukuoka South Branch / West Japan Block: Tokushima Branch
Central Japan Block: Fukui Branch / East Japan Block: Fukushima Branch - [Leadership-Development Workshop]
Date: Saturday, July 26th - Sunday, July 28th, 2008
Venue: Overseas Vocational Training Association(OVTA), Makuhari, Chiba City
Sony Preschool Education Program for Children
Applied Preschool Research Workshop held!
With the summer heat still ablaze, Applied Preschool Research Workshop was held at the Senior staff session of the Kobe City Kindergarten.There was an active exchange of ideas, The practice were provided by Okunoike Kindergarten of Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture,. . to be continued.
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/news/2007/070831.html
Participants wanted!! Outdoor nursery, to be held at Morinoko, Nagano Prefecture, September 11th.
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/kenkyu/2007/morinoko_info.html
Reports posted from the Project Report Presentation!
- June 30th, Midorigaoka Nursery School, Okazaki City
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/jissen/2007/midori.html
An open nursery session was held, where participants could see the children between ages 3 to 5 being exposed to daily experiences of nature, through various vegetables, animals, and plants being raised. . to be continued - July 7th, Chuo Nursery School and Kindergarten
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/jissen/2007/chuou.html
An integrated nursery-kindergarten facility in which one to two year-old nursery children and three to five-year old kindergarteners spend time together. In the open nursery session in the morning. to be continued.
movies updated "watch closely!"
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/jirei/video/
- Acorn in a box - 3 year-old
- Pretty colors, smells good! - (playing with colored water) 4 year-old
- Playing with foam - 5 year-old
The three movies above have been newly uploaded. Please take a look!
Comics updated "I see how it works now!"
- No. 10 "Watermelon"
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/cartoon/10_suika.html
Watermelon to snack on after playing in the water! They are so happy to eat it in the sand lot in the shade, but. - No.11 "It's heavy"
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/cartoon/11_omoi.html
Water in plastic bottles is nice and warm, so this three year-old decides to leave a bottle to play with. "I want a big one!" He says, and decides to use a big bottle, but.
Web magazine, "Can you see? The Scientific Mind" vol.55,56
- vol.55 : "Thinking" Think, explore, enjoy.
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/webmagazine/webmag55.html - vol.56 : "Why?" Plant cultivation with the enjoyment of new discoveries and wonders.
http://www.sony-ef.or.jp/preschool/webmagazine/webmag56.html
