6/28 - Samurai House, Chuo Elementary,Kanazawa University, KenKen Ochin Restaurant

I breakfasted early and went to the buffet option I had natto!

Fermented soybeans. O.K. so it isn't so tasty.

We have some extra time this morning so so a of us had decided to visit the samurai house. We met in the hotel lobby after  breakfast and walked past small canals to the samurai district which was quite nearby. We found the samurai house was open bought our tickets. We took the tour. We also took a lot of pictures.

We also discovered a great gift store with really amazing candies and pottery.

Back to the hotel to meet up with a whole group. Then a walk back in exactly the same direction as the samurai house to the Chuo elementary school. A group of students was waiting to greet us. As usual we had to remove our shoes. Then we went into a conference room where the principal and some other teachers were waiting to greet us. In the same conference room was a display of some of the students' work with gold leaf and Kaga Yusen dyeing. Refreshments were served and we were given fans, which were sorely needed in a high-temperature and humidity that is constant for Kanazawa at this time of year.

The school was founded in April of 1987 through the amalgamation of four smaller elementary school it was interesting to hear their mission statements which says "they wish to promote development of the school as the home of learning, as well as fostering pupils who are well balanced in terms of knowledge, virtue and physical strength:

• creating a 'home of learning' to which pupils go happily and fondly recall studying at after their graduation;

• creating a' home where children learn from each other' that parents, guardians and the community can count on and be proud of;

• creating a 'homeland to create competence' where teachers can feel they are improving their abilities while working; and promoting the development of a school that is energetic, productive and trustworthy."

There are very involved in what they call the UNESCO school project which is described in the following way:
"We wish to encourage the students to think about an environmentally friendly lifestyle, and to deepen understanding and appreciation ship of their relationship, their bond, with the environment. In order to do this, we will conduct environmental education and education in traditional culture. We will also provide opportunities for learning about the two water channels in our schools zone(the two rivers if Kanazawa), our handmadebiotope, and the local cultural and historical heritage. In addition, we will promote activities of the Students Committee in our school, such as activities to encourage ecological thinking and sustainable society, as well as greeting and volunteer work, thereby strengthening the bonds between all students."
The introduction then goes on to outline grade by grade projects which the students undertake to fulfill this project.
We were officially introduced to the students in the Gym. They sang for us and then we sang for them!

Every school has a place for shoes!

Meeting Dignitaries

Meeting Dignitaries

The students welcome us

For the rest of the day we were allowed to wander the building and observe classes. I was able to observe a number of classes including a science class. At lunchtime we were assigned to home room where we would join the children for the meal.

Solar panels on the school roof

Self contained biotope

Science kids, alternative energy

Science kids - resistors

Science kids-Resistance is futile!

My Lunch Buddy

How lunch is served

This is how they clean the hall floors

After lunch we returned to a 4th grade classroom where we would observe a class on traditional culture and its economic impact in Kanazawa. This class would be the basis of a lesson study and we would meet afterwards to complete the lesson study with students from the University and their professors as well as with the school staff.

At quarter of five we left the school and headed over to Kanazawa University. We were greeted by the Dean, who happened to be a retired microbiologist. He gave an inspiring lecture on sustainable development.  Again we were offered tea, and then we were taken down to another room where we were given a lecture on recycling in Japan and at the university in particular.

We finished at the University at six o'clock and then headed out for an amazing dinner at a restaurant called Kenken Ochin