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Shonan Gakuen Elementary School
- Level/s of EducationPrimaryRegionKanto
- Main areas of activityBiodiversity, Oceans, Disaster reduction/prevention, Climate change, Energy, Environment, Cultural diversity, World heritage/intangible cultural heritage/regional cultural properties, International understanding, Peace, Human rights, Sustainable production and consumption, Health, Dietary education
| Location | 3-14-13,Kugenumamatsugaoka,Fujisawa-shi,Kanagawa |
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| TEL. | 0466-23-6613 |
| Website | https://www.shogak.ac.jp/elementary/ |
| Membership | 2025 |
2025 Annual Report
Biodiversity, Oceans, Disaster reduction/prevention, Environment, Cultural diversity, World heritage/intangible cultural heritage/regional cultural properties, Peace, Sustainable production and consumption, Dietary education
Our school has adopted “Living Richly Through Mutual Acceptance” as its educational mission and has engaged in educational practices that emphasize experiential learning and dialogue. By positioning hands-on experiences within various areas of learning, we value opportunities for children to deepen their learning by sharing and exchanging the insights and feelings they gain through their five senses. In the 2025 academic year, with the goal of understanding others and learning together, we placed particular emphasis on the practice of “learning through dialogue.”
In Grade 1, students used the school’s “Learning Forest” as a starting point for seasonal nature observations, plant cultivation and harvesting, and creative art activities. Through these experiences, they discovered the joy of learning through close interaction with nature and their classmates.
In Grade 2, students observed growth processes through vegetable cultivation and engaged in philosophical dialogue throughout the year. By thinking about questions without single correct answers and sharing their ideas, they developed the ability to express their thoughts and listen to others.
In Grade 3, as part of “Ocean Studies,” students participated in an overnight learning program in Manazuru, along with local tide pool observations and visits to fishing ports. Through these activities, they gained a hands-on understanding of the marine environment and the livelihoods of people connected to the sea.
In Grade 4, students explored “Water Studies” through a mountain school program, learning about environments that nurture water resources. They also engaged in problem-solving learning from the perspective of the SDGs. While pursuing inquiry-based learning on themes such as food loss, peace, and intercultural understanding, they broadened their perspectives by interacting online with university students and encountering diverse values and ways of thinking.
In Grade 5, students learned about the connections between food and society through studies of organic farming, fisheries, and peace education. In addition, they participated in an interschool exchange with a UNESCO School in Niigata Prefecture, a snowy region, gaining valuable experiences by learning together while directly experiencing differences in region, culture, and natural environment.
In Grade 6, students integrated their accumulated experiential learning through school excursions and disaster preparedness studies.
Furthermore, through mixed-grade group activities, student council activities, and initiatives related to International Days, we have emphasized dialogue that transcends grade levels.
Through these efforts, students have developed an awareness of their connections with nature, local communities, society, and the wider world, while cultivating perspectives for considering a better future and an attitude of continuing to learn through dialogue.
Annual Work Plan
At our school, we will continue to develop interdisciplinary, integrated learning centered on overnight educational programs that have been built up at each grade level. For the themes that have evolved through “Ocean,” “Water,” and “Food,” we will clarify their positioning at the Grade 6 level and, through careful selection and restructuring of activities, organically connect them with learning experiences that include overnight programs. We will place strong emphasis on the hands-on experiences of “encountering the real,” which Shonan Gakuen Elementary School has long valued, and will design programs that cherish learning processes in which students discover and create through dialogue.
In our learning activities, we will focus on topics closely related to children’s everyday lives. Based on concrete experiences gained through all five senses, we will emphasize reflection that allows students to apply their learning to their own lives and ways of thinking. We aim to cultivate the ability to continue thinking through trial and error while engaging with open-ended challenges that have no single correct answer.
Furthermore, as a UNESCO School, we will promote learning grounded in the principles of peace, human rights, human dignity, and respect for diversity, fostering students’ autonomy and problem-solving abilities.