Tokyo SUKUWAKU Children's Inquiry Program
Tokyo SUKUWAKU Children's Inquiry Program
Tokyo SUKUWAKU Children's Inquiry Program
Exploring Nature Through the Changing Seasons
Exploring Nature Through the Changing Seasons
Exploring Nature Through the Changing Seasons
How Does Ice Change at the Robot Park?
How Does Ice Change at the Robot Park?
How Does Ice Change at the Robot Park?
A simple question about a colorful block of ice sparked a summer exploration of melting, color, and materials.
A simple question about a colorful block of ice sparked a summer exploration of melting, color, and materials.
A simple question about a colorful block of ice sparked a summer exploration of melting, color, and materials.
A simple question about a colorful block of ice sparked a summer exploration of melting, color, and materials.
It All Starts with a Question.
It All Starts with a Question.
It All Starts with a Question.
It All Starts with a Question.
Everyone chose a colorful block of ice and set off with their own ideas.
Everyone chose a colorful block of ice and set off with their own ideas.
Everyone chose a colorful block of ice and set off with their own ideas.
Everyone chose a colorful block of ice and set off with their own ideas.
At the park, everyone found their own way to explore.
At the park, everyone found their own way to explore.
At the park, everyone found their own way to explore.
At the park, everyone found their own way to explore.
SR
SR
Actions & Words
SR carefully looked after the ice and kept checking how it was changing. To keep it from melting too quickly, SR chose to stay in the shade.
Actions & Words
SR carefully looked after the ice and kept checking how it was changing. To keep it from melting too quickly, SR chose to stay in the shade.
Actions & Words
SR carefully looked after the ice and kept checking how it was changing. To keep it from melting too quickly, SR chose to stay in the shade.
Actions & Words
SR carefully looked after the ice and kept checking how it was changing. To keep it from melting too quickly, SR chose to stay in the shade.
Teacher's Observation
SR noticed that sunlight might affect how quickly the ice melted and began testing this idea by choosing different places to observe the changes.
Teacher's Observation
SR noticed that sunlight might affect how quickly the ice melted and began testing this idea by choosing different places to observe the changes.
Teacher's Observation
SR noticed that sunlight might affect how quickly the ice melted and began testing this idea by choosing different places to observe the changes.
Teacher's Observation
SR noticed that sunlight might affect how quickly the ice melted and began testing this idea by choosing different places to observe the changes.
RR
RR
Actions & Words
RR held their cup of ice and kept walking around the park.
"I want to stay with my cup."
Actions & Words
RR held their cup of ice and kept walking around the park.
"I want to stay with my cup."
Actions & Words
RR held their cup of ice and kept walking around the park.
"I want to stay with my cup."
Actions & Words
RR held their cup of ice and kept walking around the park.
“I want to stay with my cup.”
Teacher's Observation
RR chose to keep the cup of ice close at all times, observing it continuously throughout the activity. For RR, the ice became more than just a material—it was something worth staying with, watching, and understanding.
Teacher's Observation
RR chose to keep the cup of ice close at all times, observing it continuously throughout the activity. For RR, the ice became more than just a material—it was something worth staying with, watching, and understanding.
Teacher's Observation
RR chose to keep the cup of ice close at all times, observing it continuously throughout the activity. For RR, the ice became more than just a material—it was something worth staying with, watching, and understanding.
Teacher's Observation
RR chose to keep the cup of ice close at all times, observing it continuously throughout the activity. For RR, the ice became more than just a material—it was something worth staying with, watching, and understanding.
SK
SK
Actions & Words
SK noticed that the area beneath the playground rocker was shaded from direct sunlight and placed the cup of ice there.
"Teacher, I put my cup here. Under the rocker, the sun can't reach it."
Actions & Words
SK noticed that the area beneath the playground rocker was shaded from direct sunlight and placed the cup of ice there.
"Teacher, I put my cup here. Under the rocker, the sun can't reach it."
Actions & Words
SK noticed that the area beneath the playground rocker was shaded from direct sunlight and placed the cup of ice there.
"Teacher, I put my cup here. Under the rocker, the sun can't reach it."
Actions & Words
SK noticed that the area beneath the playground rocker was shaded from direct sunlight and placed the cup of ice there.
“Teacher, I put my cup here. Under the rocker, the sun can’t reach it.”
Teacher's Observation
SK not only observed how the ice was changing but also chose a suitable place to slow the melting. This showed the beginning of making decisions and testing ideas based on personal observations.
Teacher's Observation
SK not only observed how the ice was changing but also chose a suitable place to slow the melting. This showed the beginning of making decisions and testing ideas based on personal observations.
Teacher's Observation
SK not only observed how the ice was changing but also chose a suitable place to slow the melting. This showed the beginning of making decisions and testing ideas based on personal observations.
Teacher's Observation
SK not only observed how the ice was changing but also chose a suitable place to slow the melting. This showed the beginning of making decisions and testing ideas based on personal observations.
YK
YK
Actions & Words
YK held the cup up to the sunlight and said with delight:
"The ice looks so beautiful in the sunshine!"
Later, some of the melted water accidentally spilled out. Feeling disappointed, YK couldn't help but cry.
Actions & Words
YK held the cup up to the sunlight and said with delight:
"The ice looks so beautiful in the sunshine!"
Later, some of the melted water accidentally spilled out. Feeling disappointed, YK couldn't help but cry.
Actions & Words
YK held the cup up to the sunlight and said with delight:
"The ice looks so beautiful in the sunshine!"
Later, some of the melted water accidentally spilled out. Feeling disappointed, YK couldn't help but cry.
Actions & Words
YK held the cup up to the sunlight and said with delight:
“The ice looks so beautiful in the sunshine!”
Later, some of the melted water accidentally spilled out. Feeling disappointed, YK couldn’t help but cry.
Teacher's Observation
YK noticed not only how the ice was melting but also how the sunlight transformed its colors. When the water spilled, YK's disappointment showed just how much the ice—and the discoveries made along the way—had come to matter.
Teacher's Observation
YK noticed not only how the ice was melting but also how the sunlight transformed its colors. When the water spilled, YK's disappointment showed just how much the ice—and the discoveries made along the way—had come to matter.
Teacher's Observation
YK noticed not only how the ice was melting but also how the sunlight transformed its colors. When the water spilled, YK's disappointment showed just how much the ice—and the discoveries made along the way—had come to matter.
Teacher's Observation
YK noticed not only how the ice was melting but also how the sunlight transformed its colors. When the water spilled, YK’s disappointment showed just how much the ice—and the discoveries made along the way—had come to matter.
Back in the Classroom, the Inquiry Continued
"The yellow and blue mixed together and turned green!"
Back in the Classroom, the Inquiry Continued
"The yellow and blue mixed together and turned green!"
Back in the Classroom, the Inquiry Continued
"The yellow and blue mixed together and turned green!"
Back in the Classroom, the Inquiry Continued
"The yellow and blue mixed together and turned green!"
Will Different Materials Change in the Same Way?
Will Different Materials Change in the Same Way?
Will Different Materials Change in the Same Way?
Will Different Materials Change in the Same Way?
SK used a dropper, RM noticed the cotton floating, and AD began asking new questions about the colored water.
SK used a dropper, RM noticed the cotton floating, and AD began asking new questions about the colored water.
SK used a dropper, RM noticed the cotton floating, and AD began asking new questions about the colored water.
SK used a dropper, RM noticed the cotton floating, and AD began asking new questions about the colored water.
Each drop left a trail on the paper—and a trace of curiosity that kept growing.
Each drop left a trail on the paper—and a trace of curiosity that kept growing.
Traces of Inquiry Left by Every Drop
Traces of Inquiry Left by Every Drop
Traces of Inquiry Left by Every Drop
Traces of Inquiry Left by Every Drop
Everyone adjusted the position and pressure of the dropper, observing how each drop spread across the paper.
Everyone adjusted the position and pressure of the dropper, observing how each drop spread across the paper.
The colors left different traces on paper, fabric, and cotton, capturing each round of observation, comparison, and new discoveries along the way.
These creations are more than the final results of an activity—they are records of each child's thinking and inquiry.
Everyone adjusted the position and pressure of the dropper, observing how each drop spread across the paper.
The colors left different traces on paper, fabric, and cotton, capturing each round of observation, comparison, and new discoveries along the way.
These creations are more than the final results of an activity—they are records of each child's thinking and inquiry.
Everyone adjusted the position and pressure of the dropper, observing how each drop spread across the paper.
The colors left different traces on paper, fabric, and cotton, capturing each round of observation, comparison, and new discoveries along the way.
The colors left different traces on paper, fabric, and cotton, capturing each round of observation, comparison, and new discoveries along the way.
These creations are more than the final results of an activity—they are records of each child's thinking and inquiry.
These creations are more than the final results of an activity—they are records of each child's thinking and inquiry.
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Curiosity doesn't end when an answer is found.
It continues to grow with every new discovery.
Curiosity doesn't end when an answer is found.
It continues to grow with every new discovery.
Curiosity doesn't end when an answer is found.
It continues to grow with every new discovery.
Curiosity doesn't end when an answer is found.
It continues to grow with every new discovery.
Activity Information
Activity Information
Date
Date
July 22, 2026
July 22, 2026
July 22, 2026
Annual Inquiry Theme
Annual Inquiry Theme
Nature Inquiry Through the Changing Seasons
Nature Inquiry Through the Changing Seasons
Nature Inquiry Through the Changing Seasons
Location
Location
Robot Park & Classroom
Robot Park & Classroom
Robot Park & Classroom
Materials Used
Materials Used
Colored ice, clear cups, blue and yellow food coloring, droppers, fabric, cotton, and watercolor paper.
Colored ice, clear cups, blue and yellow food coloring, droppers, fabric, cotton, and watercolor paper.
Colored ice, clear cups, blue and yellow food coloring, droppers, fabric, cotton, and watercolor paper.