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The "Manufacturing Based on Learning from Nature, Junior Forum 2007" program was held with the aim of giving children within the 5th year primary school to 1st year middle school age range the opportunity to learn directly from experts about the history of human learning from nature and the successes of science to interest the children in natural science by applying new perspectives and methods to extend the process to actual creative hands-on experience, cultivating an understanding of the importance of the natural environment and scientific curiosity.
The program was divided into two parts, "Learning Session" and "Hands-on Experience Session" with the aim of conveying to the children a sense of the fascination of nature through actual experiential studies not usually taught at school and enabling them to enjoy the fun of applying knowledge acquired though this process.
After the "Learning Session," during which the children were taught the extent of the contribution of learning from nature to science, the children then advanced on to two classes: "Elective Subjects" where the students were able to select subjects of particular appeal and the "Full Participation Course." We hope that through these courses, the children were able to develop an interest in nature and science and a real sense of the importance of these issues.
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Mr. Akaike, who is involved in product development based on universal design, presented his lecture on the perspective of asking the question "Why?" about natural phenomena that we normally take for granted and showed the children that this approach can lead to all kinds of discoveries. For example, his explanation of how the invention of painless syringe needles was based on the discovery that insect stings are painless impressed a great many of the children in the audience. He went on to present a great many other similar concrete examples of manufacturing based on learning from nature.
Sakana-kun gave a talk on various aspects of marine life. Taking horse mackerel, a fish particularly popular during this season, as an example, he explained that each part of the fish's body has a specific meaning and illustrated his points by actually drawing while talking. After listening to Sakana-kun's interesting and easy-to-understand talk, many of the children who had previously shown little interest in marine life and were not fond of fish seemed to have developed an interest in the subject and said that they found fish interesting. The discussion class made the children realize the importance of developing curiosity through close observation and pondering the reasons behind natural phenomena.
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Lecturer :
Manabu Akaike
Director of Universal Design Intelligence, Inc.
Scientific Technology Journalist
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Lecturer :
Sakana-kun
Associate Professor, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
Marine Life/Coordinator
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The children selected one of three hands-on experience themes and were divided into groups to pursue studies in a 3-steps: "Thinking" → "Trial" → "Investigation."
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"Thinking" → What is polymer? How do absorbent polymers work?
"Trial" → Finding out about the properties of absorbent polymers.
(How much water is absorbed? In what form does absorbed water come out?)
"Investigation" → How is absorbent polymer found in our everyday lives used?
Voices of Participating Children
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"Today was the first time I had heard of polymer and I found its properties and functions fascinating." |
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"I would like to find out more about polymers in our daily lives." |
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"Although we don't normally have the chance to try these experiments at school, I really enjoyed the experience thanks to the lecturers who taught us in a joyful way." |
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"Thinking" → Do fireflies glow in the same way the world over? How does a Genji firefly develop during its lifespan? What is the tail of a Genji firefly like?
"Trial" → Attempting to create firefly light.
"Investigation" → About fireflies that protect our health.
Voices of Participating Children
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"In the middle of all the worries about the destruction of nature, we were able to experience fireflies, one of nature's great wonders. I hope that I'll be able to put this experience to good use in the future." |
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"We studied about how fireflies produce light and this made me feel like a professor myself." |
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"I was excited when we produced the same light that a firefly generates in the palms of our hands." |
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"Thinking" → Light energy changes into electricity. Learning about photosynthesis. Is it possible to create a battery applying the functions of photosynthesis?
"Trial" → Removal of pigments from plants. Creation of a battery to power a music box.
"Investigation" → Learning about the functions of photosynthetic battery.
Voices of Participating Children
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"The thing that sticks out most in my mind is using the battery I made myself to play a music box." |
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"I want to prepare all the materials we used during today's experiment and try it again at home." |
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"My experiment failed, but the idea of producing electricity from red cabbage is incredible." |
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The course content was based on the concept that the mechanism that an airplane uses to fly is the same as that employed by birds and seeds and the children investigated similarities between birds, seeds and airplanes making visual comparisons with paper planes.
After considering the mechanism that enables a bird to fly in the sky and the mysterious mechanism that enables seeds to fly, the children investigated the secrets of wings used for flight and, based on the results of this investigation, each of the children made and launched a paper plane.
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Lecturer :
Jun Tamba
Mr. Tamba has wide experience of events and handcraft and experiential shows at science museums that present the enjoyment of creation and science through aircraft.
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Voices of Participating Children
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"I learned about flying seeds for the first time and was really excited to actually see some examples of them." |
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"I now know that it only takes small adjustments to extend the distance of flight." |
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"The paper plane that the lecturer made flew so beautifully that it was hard to believe it was only made of paper." |
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< Opinions from Children >
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"I learned that many human inventions are based on knowledge acquired from nature and I feel that there is still a great deal more to learn from the natural world." |
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"I hope that ideas I have thought about will benefit people in the future and I hope to have the opportunity to put my ideas into practice." |
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"Although I am not very good at science and actually hate it, after hearing the talk by today's lecturer, I really feel that nature and science are amazing. I hope in future to enjoy studying not only science, but also all kinds of other subjects." |
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< Opinions from Guardians >
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"I learned that it is important to give careful thought to nature and, as an adult, I want to give my children the chance to gradually experience the world of nature." |
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"Rather than simply cramming knowledge from books into our children's heads, I feel that actually listening to talks by people working in fields actually based on learning from nature broadens children's interest in the subject. This was a meaningful opportunity that allowed parents and children to learn together from a fresh perspective." |
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"This was a great learning opportunity not only for the children, but also for the adults and it gave me a renewed chance to savor the enjoyment and profundity of learning." |
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"The eyes of the children who took the classes were sparkling. I am looking forward to asking my children what they thought of the experience when we get home today. I am sure that this type of event will also give children and their parents more opportunities to talk to each other.
This was an excellent opportunity to cultivate the budding young scientists who will bear the future of the earth. I will be truly happy if my children grow up with the ability to enjoy the experience of manufacturing based on learning from nature."
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This event held in Tokyo at the end of the summer holidays was attended by a great many people who had come from far-flung regions. Although it is said nowadays that children are gradually losing touch with science, a large number of the participating children raised their hands in response to the question "Who thinks that science is fun" at the end of the event. Many children were actively asking the lecturers questions, learning with enthusiasm and demonstrating the joy and happiness of discovery.
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