Mitsubishi Electric Outdoor Classroom
First Class: Monday, October 30, 2006

Learning About Nature's Cycle (Hibiya Park, Tokyo)

The class was conducted for 19 children from Tamei Kindergarten, with the participation of 13 outdoor school leaders from Mitsubishi Electric who assisted in nature observation. The principal and teachers from the kindergarten also participated, along with parents and members of the Japan Outdoor Life Promotion Society.

Class Activities

  • Orientation
    Three promises; how to use a magnifying glass
  • Nature observation
    Ginkgo tree trunk, ginkgo nuts, lilac oxalis flowers, the scent of jasmine flowers, maple tree seeds, scent of camphor tree leaves, decaying plant stubble (mold, mushrooms, snails, earthworms, fungi, ants, etc.), dandelion leaves/flowers/seed globes, pale grass blue butterflies, and creeping lady's sorrel
  • Game to sharpen the senses
    “Bag of Secrets”
  • Appearance of Mullay, the Fairy
    The fictitious fairy Mullay appears to serve as a bridge between nature and the children, and conveys the words of plants and animals.
    *“Mullay” is from the Swedish word mullen, meaning earth or soil.
  • Treasure hunt

Discovering the Power of Nature

  • Ways of dispersing seeds
  • Nature's cycle
  • Pale grass blue larva primarily eat creepy lady's sorrel leaves
  • Ways camphor tree leaves prevent being eaten by insects
    (powerful odor)
All around Hibiya Park, where the children often come to play, nature is full of surprises that they had never noticed before. I hope that the children will come to love nature more and more as they combine all that they've learned about nature in picture books with the things they first noticed today about the way nature works.
Outdoor Classroom Leader Photo
Kanji Ota
Outdoor Classroom Leader
Learning About Nature's Cycle Photo 1 There are many things living around dead plants, and that teaches us about nature's cycle.
Learning About Nature's Cycle Photo 2 Earthworms make a creepy-crawly sound. They eat and breakdown the soil for us.
Learning About Nature's Cycle Photo 3 Practice using a magnifying glass. What did it look like?
Learning About Nature's Cycle Photo 4 We tried smelling different flowers, like jasmine and lilac oxalis flowers.