On Thursday, May 7, our 4th graders went on a field trip as part of their social studies to the “Mishima Clean Center” and “Kurashiki Dam”!

At our first destination, the Mishima Clean Center, students learned about what happens to garbage after it is collected. They observed how waste from Uruma City and Onna Village is gathered and were impressed by the powerful sight of a giant crane mixing the trash up close. The students also enjoyed working on an “Eco-mark Bingo” worksheet prepared by the staff, which helped them deepen their understanding of environmental protection in a fun and engaging way.

Inside the facility, the children were fascinated by items found among the garbage, such as old sewing machines and rotary phones. These discoveries sparked their curiosity, and many students eagerly wondered what life was like in the past.

Next, we visited Kurashiki Dam, where students learned about the importance of water. Despite it being the rainy season, the dam’s water level was only 37% on that day. This surprising fact provided a valuable opportunity for students to truly realize how precious water is. At the museum, they watched an easy-to-understand video explaining the role and structure of the dam, which further deepened their understanding of why water conservation is so important in our daily lives!

Through this field trip, students learned the importance of saving water, properly separating garbage, and recycling.
We hope they will continue to practice the “earth-friendly ideas” they learned, both at home and at school!