Fostering Inquisitive Learners

by The American School In Japan

Project Report | Dec 17, 2018
Sixth-Graders Reflect and Look Forward at KEEP

By Jean Ren | Advancement Database Specialist

6th graders at KEEP

Transitioning from elementary school to middle school is a significant time in a child’s life. It can be filled with many different emotions, demanding challenges and significant events in their development.

To commemorate this passage, sixth-grade students at ASIJ embarked on an important (and fun!) extended trip to the Kiyosato Educational Experiment Project (KEEP) center in the mountains of Kiyosato, east of Tokyo. KEEP is a recreational complex set in dairy farming land amongst the Japanese Alps, with breathtaking sweeping views of Mt Fuji on cloudless days.

Our mission at ASIJ is to foster a community of inquisitive learners and independent thinkers, inspired to be their best selves and empowered to make a difference. Through participation in KEEP’s nature-centered activities which include hiking, nightly explorations and forest-related challenges, our students learned to embody our mission and vision for learning. Throughout this three-day learning adventure, each student deepened bonds with their peers as well as their teachers.

Eighth-grader Rintaro who went along to cover the experience spoke on the impact that the trip had on everyone: “After we experienced the KEEP trip, all we could talk about was our individual experiences, and we met with classmates we don’t often talk to. “

The following quotes from sixth-grade students echoed this sentiment:

“The hike was a little difficult, but very beautiful and interesting and definitely a great experience.” (Colette)

“I learned that all animals are unique and different in many different ways.” (Riho)

“It was really fun to work together and make new friends.” (Erin)

KEEP forest hiking

KEEP dancing

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