投稿者: 高1エクスプローラーコース

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1st Year Explorer Course Orientation Camp Day 1

The Explorer Course Orientation Camp in Inuyama is off to a great start. Students and teachers began the trip by visiting Inuyama Castle. Students enjoyed the views from atop the oldest original castle in Japan. Afterwards, students strolled the Inuyama Showa Alley and tried various sweets and savory snacks.

After traveling the historic sites,  the students changed venues to the Nagoya University of Economics. The Explorer students had brainstormed and prepared a variety of activities they would do with some of the university’s international students. The Explorer students did their best to keep the activities lively and entice more participants from passersby. Some of the Explorer students also cooked tamagoyaki and made green tea to give to the international students. All the foreign students appeared to have a great time with some of them actively participating for over an hour.

After the Explorer students were done with the activities they were given a tour of the university campus and then played volleyball in the gymnasium with some university students.

 

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Floor Volleyball with the Nagoya School For the Visually Impaired

On December 18th, 2024, students from the Explorer Course visited the Aichi Prefectural School for the Visually Impaired (愛知県立名古屋盲学校) to enjoy activities together. The highlights of the afternoon were the delicious lunch provided by the School for the Visually Impaired, as well as a great series of special volleyball games between students from both schools.

At first, the Explorer Course students were escorted onto the campus of the School for the Visually Impaired by the teachers at that school. They began the afternoon with a hearty lunch of gyudon, potato salad, and a bowl of fruit. Luckily, some students who were still hungry were able to have seconds. During the lunch, students at both schools were seated in a mixed arrangement such that they could converse with each other. Although lunch was short, everyone had a great time, and it was a good icebreaker leading up to the sports that would soon follow.

Next, the real activities began, as the students and teachers of the School for the Visually Impaired demonstrated for the Explorer Course students how to play a special style of volleyball called “Floor Volleyball.” Floor Volleyball is modified from regular volleyball such that even participants who cannot see (either completely blind or partially blind) can still enjoy the sport. There are no overhead strikes in the game, and the ball is meant to be hit or rolled along the floor only (under the net). Each team has a 3-person defensive group, all of whom are blindfolded. The rest of the team on either side are not blindfolded, and can see normally. As such, verbal communication between the defensive and offensive members of each team is essential.

Students from the Explorer Course all had a chance to play in a series of Floor Volleyball games, and through this experience, they could come to more fully and deeply understand the meaningful ways in which our senses help us interact with the world around us. Furthermore, (and more importantly), they could gain a sense of empathy with others who may not be able to use all their senses and still be able to navigate and succeed in society at large.

In summary, the Explorer Course visit to the Aichi Prefectural School for the Visually Impaired was a fun and memorable experience for all, and we hope that there is a chance for our schools to work together again in the near future.

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Explorer Course Explores Museums of Toyota City

Explorer students had the opportunity to participate in various activities over the past three days. Nine Explorer students from the first and third grades chose to visit the Toyota Hands-On Museum and the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.

エクスプローラーの生徒たちは、過去3日間にわたり様々な活動に参加する機会がありました。1年生と3年生のエクスプローラーの生徒9名が、とよた科学体験館と豊田市美術館を訪れることを選びました。

The students met at Toyotashi Station at 10 a.m. and walked to the Toyota Hands-On Museum. There, they were free to explore and engage with a wide range of science exhibits. One exhibit featured a balloon inside a vacuum chamber, which gave one student quite a surprise during the demonstration.

生徒たちは午前10時に豊田市駅で集合し、とよた科学体験館まで歩いて向かいました。館内では自由に探索し、多くの科学展示に触れることができました。その中の一つの展示では、真空チャンバー内の風船が紹介され、その結果が生徒の一人に大きな驚きを与えました。

Afterward, the students regrouped and walked about 15 minutes to the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art. For lunch, they either ate bento boxes they had brought with them or dined at the Museum Café, which offered a fantastic view of the city and surrounding mountains through its large glass windows.

その後、生徒たちは再集合し、約15分歩いて豊田市美術館に向かいました。昼食には持参したお弁当を食べたり、美術館内のカフェで食事をしたりしました。カフェからは大きなガラス窓越しに街や周囲の山々の素晴らしい景色を眺めることができました。

Following lunch, students had the option to visit either the permanent exhibit or the special exhibit, Anarchism and Art. The permanent exhibit showcased numerous works, primarily by Japanese artists. At the end of the day, some students commented that interpreting the various art pieces had left them feeling more mentally exhausted than they had anticipated.

昼食後、生徒たちは常設展と特別展「アナーキズムと芸術」のいずれかを鑑賞することを選べました。常設展には主に日本人アーティストによる多くの作品が展示されていました。1日の終わりには、「さまざまな美術作品を解釈しようとするのは思ったよりも疲れた」と感想を述べる生徒もいました。

From the art museum, the students walked back to Toyotashi Station, said their goodbyes, and parted ways.

美術館を出た後、生徒たちは再び豊田市駅まで歩き、そこで別れの挨拶をして解散しました。

 

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Online Exchange with American Students

On Friday July  12 the students of the Explorer Course hosted an online exchange with university students in the United States of America. Explorer Course students from 101, 201 and 301 classes worked together to show many important sites around Nagoya and help the American students to learn about Japanese culture and society.

7月10日（水）～12日（金）の3日間は「コース別自主活動日」です。生徒は終日探究活動に取り組みました。

3日目、エクスプローラーコースの1・2・3年生はアメリカの大学生とオンライン交流会を行いました。学年を超えて生徒同士で協力して、名古屋周辺の名所の数々をオンラインで案内し、海の向こうのアメリカの学生に日本の文化や社会について学んでもらう機会をつくりました。

The students divided up into four groups, and made a plan to livestream their introductions from different places around Nagoya.

One group made a presentation from Inuyama Castle.

生徒たちは4つのグループに分かれて、各地から自己紹介をライブ配信しました。あるグループは犬山城からプレゼンテーションを行いました。

Another group presented from Nagoya Tower.

名古屋テレビ塔からは別のグループが登場。

Other groups presented from the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, and from Atsuta Jingu. Some students joined the meeting by ZOOM from the classroom.

その他、トヨタ産業技術記念館、熱田神宮からも中継しました。教室からZOOMで参加した生徒もいました。

 

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Explorer Course Hosts a Memorable Event with Aichi Kenritsu Nagoya Mogakko

Explorer Course 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade high school students recently hosted an event for students from Aichi Kenritsu Nagoya Mogakko, the local school for the visually impaired. The day was filled with engaging activities, friendly conversations, and collaborative fun that left everyone eager for future events.


The event began with our Explorer students walking over to Aichi Kenritsu Nagoya Mogakko to assist their students in making the journey back to our school. This act of camaraderie set the tone for the day, emphasizing the spirit of support and inclusion that underpinned the entire event.

7月10日（水）～12日（金）の3日間は「コース別自主活動日」です。生徒は終日探究活動に取り組みました。

エクスプローラーコースの1・2・3年生はお隣の名古屋盲学校の生徒を招いてイベントを行いました。
まずは本校の生徒が盲学校へ出かけ、盲学校の生徒と一緒に本校へ歩いて向かいました。ペアの仲間をサポートしながら一緒に歩いたこの時間が、お互いの距離をぐっと近づけ、とてもいい雰囲気でイベントをスタートすることができました。

Upon arrival, everyone gathered in the school cafeteria for lunch. This was a great opportunity for students from both schools to converse and get to know one another better. The lively chatter and shared meals created a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

到着後は、食堂で昼食をとりながら楽しくおしゃべりタイム。お互いの話題に会話も弾み、さらに仲を深めることができました。

After lunch, the Explorer students divided the attendees into four groups and took on the role of tour guides. They led the students from Aichi Kenritsu Nagoya Mogakko on a tour of our school, highlighting various areas and facilities. A standout moment was in the Physics Lab, where Otsu Sensei captivated everyone with an audio-based science demonstration using speakers and a series of tones.

昼食後はグループに分かれて、校内見学ツアー。生徒がガイド役になって校内のさまざまなエリアや施設を案内しました。物理室では、先生がスピーカーを使った音声ベースの科学実験ショーを披露し、生徒たちを楽しませました。

The tour concluded with the groups reconvening to participate in two interactive activities. First, a student from Aichi Kenritsu Nagoya Mogakko led a discussion where groups decided what food they would choose to eat forever. This prompted creative and fun conversations. Next, a 3rd grade Explorer student organized a game where groups guessed the artist and song title of short music clips played over a speaker. The competition was fierce, and three groups ended up in a tie, showcasing the excellent musical knowledge of all participants.

校内見学ツアーの後は、お互いに用意したアクティビティで楽しみました。まずは盲学校の生徒が中心になって、「ずっと食べ続けたい食べ物」をテーマにディスカッション。どのグループも創造的なアイデアで盛り上がりました。

次に本校の生徒が企画したアーティスト名と曲名当てクイズ大会を行いました。スピーカーから短い音楽が再生されるたびに、次々にアーティスト名や曲名を答える生徒たち。最終的に3グループが同点でならび、大激戦になりました。

As the event drew to a close, Explorer students once again assisted their new friends in walking back to their school. The day was a resounding success, filled with laughter, learning, and lasting connections. Both sets of students expressed their hopes for more collaborative activities in the future.

イベントの最後には行きと同じように盲学校まで一緒に歩いて帰りました。この日一日、お互いにたくさん笑い、学び合い、今後の交流を続けることを約束し合うことができ、イベントは大成功でした。次回の交流が楽しみです。盲学校のみなさん、ありがとうございました。

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Fujimae Tidal Flats Clean-up Event 2024

Students at Ichimura High School first joined this event three years ago at the suggestion of 5 students who had been studying microplastics in class. This year, 23 students from Ichimura participated, along with Mr. Davis, Mr. Kraus, and Mr. Otsu. While we were gathering at the location, we were surprised to meet 4 of the alumni who started this project, and to hear that the fifth alumni was volunteering on the Noto Peninsula. Here are some of the impressions from our student participants.

  • Seeing the microplastics that we learned about in class and on TV made us feel closer to the marine problem. No matter how much we remove, we can never completely remove them, and we were able to understand the seriousness of the microplastic problem and the difficulty of improving it.
  • We were surprised at the amount of trash that was thrown away during this activity. We also felt refreshed after seeing the cleaned up Fujimae Tidal Flats after the activity.
  • We learned the fun of working together with the same goal of cleaning up. We found a lot of trash while cleaning. However, some of it got stuck in the gaps between the rocks and we gave up trying to get it out.
  • Cleaning is Fun! (Mr. Davis)

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Language and Cultural Exchange with a Korean High School

On Tuesday, May 21 in 6th and 7th periods, students at Ichimura had an online exchange meeting with students from Heson International Convention Girl’s High School. This was our second exchange meeting with students from this school. This time, students from the third year explorer course were joined by students from the first year explorer course. The students played a Quiz game where they wrote and asked each other 25 questions about their country’s history, culture, daily life, and recent trends. We discovered that there are more things in common between the two countries than we could have imagined. We were able to get a real feel for modern Korea and Japan that we could not learn from the textbook. Finally, we had a chance to exchange our Instagram and SNS accounts to continue the language and culture exchange in the future.

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Explorer Students attend “Meidaisai” – The 65th Nagoya University Festival

On June 8th, students and teachers gathered at Nagoya University to attend a series of lectures and exhibits. In the 3rd year Bunri Tankyu class, we are currently learning about various aspects of space, so we made sure to attend some lectures related to this theme. To start things off, we were fortunate to learn about the Big Bang from Dr. Naoto Sugiyama, President of the Faculty of Science and the Physics C Laboratory at Nagoya University.

Afterward, students split up to attend different lectures and visit the Nagoya University Museum.

Following our individual sessions, we regrouped and headed across the campus to learn about the ongoing work at the Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research.

After a presentation on carbon dating, we explored many interactive displays showcasing various research projects.

Students had the opportunity to use research equipment and experience a VR environment that transformed precipitation data collected by satellites into an interactive world.

Overall, we learned a great deal. It was an excellent opportunity to expand our knowledge from the Bunri Tankyu class and apply what we had learned outside of the classroom.

 
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Explorer Course オリ合宿2日目

エクスプローラーコースオリ合宿2日目です。

今日は、午前は寂光院散策と三角点まで登りました。午後は名経大留学生との交流です。今日の留学生は日本語が上手とのことで、交流内容も新聞記事を扱っていました。2日間、日本語の先生としてよく頑張りました！様々な国の方が日本語を頑張って学んでいることを、生徒たちはどのように感じたのでしょうか・・・経験は宝物ですね。