Day 5: Elementary School Visit

As saying goes, "the early bird gets the worm". The cub scouts woke up to an early start before sunrise and got ready for the activities of the day. After changing into their winter wear, the cubs assembled for the walk to the Yaizu fish market at 6 am.

Fishy

As soon as we approached the Yaizu fish market, the stench of the freshly caught fish stung our noses. The sight of many different varieties of fish both in baskets and tubs shocked us, as we have never seen so many fishes in a tub before. Out of nowhere a beautiful sunrise appeared and we took this chance to snap a few photos. 

Before heading back, we noticed that the fisherman were grouping up together, Matsuda-san told us that the fisherman were having an “auction”-like marketing for fish to bring back home for their families.

How to turn on the sun rise

Touch the sun!

After the “auction” we headed back to the Yaizu Center to get changed into our half uniform before eating our breakfast.

After having a scrumptious breakfast, we split into three separate groups and boarded the bus to proceed to our respective elementary schools, Anzai, Aoi and Temamachi elementary school. 

Art Pieces by Grade 4, 5 and 6 students

We did many different types of activity in our schools. The school that greenwood primary school visited was Anzai elementary school and the first activity was home economics: how to make and pour tea. The schools that Mee Toh and De La Salle went to are 3 lesson observations and a musical performance by the grade 4 & 5s (Pri 4 & 5) students.

Although it's a small and new looking school, it's actually 110 years old.

Pop Quiz!

The school that River Valley Ravens visited was Tenmachi elementary school. The principal gave us a group pop quiz which was in fact an interesting way to learn about the school. We were split into two groups, one to visit the lower elementary and the other for the upper. The upper elementary attended Japanese, art, music and social studies classes.

Artist at work

Social Studies Lesson for Grade 5 students

Art Class

It was interesting that instead of using only textbooks, the teachers utilised a card game to teach! On the cards, it stated some Japanese sayings which were actually Japanese literature. The students were grouped together and the teacher was reading out the poems. The students then had to find the poem the teacher wrote out and take it away. 

Card Game in learning

Seems fun!

In the lower elementary blocks, when we entered it was rather noisy with wild and excited kids at the sight of visitors. We were clueless and unsure what to do in the wrecking pandemonium. 

However, with a simple act of counting of,”1,2,3.” By the teacher, the whole class stopped and listened to her immediately. We could sense the level of discipline in the classroom of Grade 1 students. Compared to Singapore, teachers have to raise their voice to get the students’ attention. However, here although the children were rowdy at first, they know when to behave and when to have fun.

Cleaning up after themselves

During the art lesson that followed, the students pulled our hands and brought us to our seats. At the mere age of 9, students were treating us visitors like kings. The students gave us decorative stickers, twigs to decorate our photo frame. The photo frame idea was not told to us. But when we knew bout it, we felt rather moved. After these activities, we had lunch in school, with the students in our respective schools’ company.

Lunch time with the children

They even prepared a farewell gift!

Group Photo at Tenmachi Elementary School

Soon after, we all got picked up from our schools, we traveled to the Sumpu Craft center to do different types of crafting techniques from glass painting to bamboo crafting. The same groups from the schools went to do different crafting techniques.

Concentration!

Hard at work

Final Product!

Soon after the crafting, we boarded the bus to proceed to the prefectural office. This time we were split into another type of groups, group A and group B, group A went to visit the Shizuoka Governor while group B went to a nearby shopping centre to shop for whatever they need.

Meeting the Governor

Soon after, we had to board the bus to return to Yaizu Centre for a delicious dinner. We then headed to the orientation room and planned, practiced and prepared for the combined activities the following day. We had a short reflection sharing after that, went for a relaxing warm bath and then headed to bed.

Stay tuned for Day 6's blog!