27、"“Let’s find and give a name to plants, then make soap with plant specimens!” —Report on an Education Program developed in cooperation with Kyushu University Museum, Hakozaki Community Center and the Non-Profit Association CLCworks–

 

Mai SAKAKURA

Kyushu University

 

The main purpose of this program was to develop children’s sensitivity and ability to discover amazing things in daily life. There were four steps. 　1) The education director of Hakozaki Community Center read a picture book about weeds to children; 　2) Children looked for and collected plants depending on their own interests on the University Campus and gave them original names; 　3) Children made easy plant specimens under the guidance of a researcher of Kyushu University Museum;　 4) Children molded soap and put the specimens on them. All steps were facilitated by communicators from CLCworks. After the program, the children took the soap home to use it. This program combines scientific experience and daily life experience. Use of soap will remind them of their experience on that day and the joy of science.
Kyushu University Museum is an institution of research and higher education using specimens, and Hakozaki Community Center is a place offering social support (e.g. cooking classes). CLCworks is an association focusing on children’s life and designing unique activities for them, so CLCworks could successfully cooperate with these two institutions.
The program is applicable to zoos and aquariums with some modification.