[4th Meeting] Adventure Day Fieldwork! Exploring Yawata!
Professor’s Greeting
Hello everyone! August 30 was “Adventure Day.” Just like the name says, today we went out into Yawata and nearby places for fieldwork. The fun part about fieldwork is this: “You only understand when you try,” “You only discover when you go.
In the past, our fieldwork led to cool ideas like the “Monkey Bar Contest” after watching kids play at the park, and the “Bamboo Relay” that started from noodle-sliding and rice ball experiments.
Even when things don’t work well, it can lead to a new discovery. So, what did we find this time? Let’s look back at each team’s adventure!
Elementary A Team: Investigating Yawata’s Famous Sweets “Hashiriimochi”
Team A wanted to learn about Yawata’s local sweets. They visited a shop that makes Hashiriimochi. After tasting, they asked about the shop’s history, why people love it so much, and the special ingredients.
They realized that the sweet is not only tasty but also an important part of local life. The kids felt, “We can share the charm of our town through sweets!”
Elementary B Team: Checking Out Garbage Issues
Team B focused on garbage problems. They visited the trash area in Otokoyama housing complex. They looked at signs about littering and illegal dumping, and saw how people actually throw away trash.
This made them think about manners and rules. Next time, they’ll go to Yawata Mountain’s garbage site. Finding these everyday problems is the first step to fixing them!
Elementary C Team: Strawberry Menu at Osazen Farm
Team C went to Osazen Farm. Their theme was “menus for school lunches.”
They asked about ways to make strawberry dishes for about 270 yen. Ideas included strawberry milk (with jam), pancakes with jam, and even strawberry cakes for events like Christmas or graduation.
The kids said, “This could be a sweet memory for 6th graders!” and got really excited.
Junior High Team: Building a Bamboo Tipi
The junior high students worked on disaster preparedness by building a tipi (a cone-shaped tent used by Native Americans).
They tried standing up the poles, making the entrance, and making it strong against rain and wind. Building a disaster-prevention shelter with bamboo was a fresh new challenge!
High School Team: Disaster Training at Kyoto Citizen’s Safety Center
The high school team went beyond Yawata to the Kyoto Citizen’s Safety Center.
They experienced disasters like earthquakes, strong winds, and floods. They also made slippers out of newspaper and tried a fire-extinguishing game.
It was fun but also serious—they learned how scary disasters can be, and how important it is to be prepared.
