With the start of the new school year, the children—now settled into their new classes—went on a walk to Meguro River.

Surrounded by cherry blossoms in full bloom, the children paused to take in the scenery, watched petals drifting along the river, and showed a growing interest in the signs of spring.

A week later, we visited Meguro River again and noticed a significant change in the landscape. The cherry blossoms had fallen, and fresh green leaves had begun to emerge.

The children expressed their observations with comments such as, “The flowers are gone,” and “The leaves are coming out,” and shared their discoveries with one another.

Through these experiences, they began to notice differences in the scenery and gradually developed an awareness of seasonal changes.

During Inquiry Time, we extended this curiosity by exploring the concept of seasons. The children shared simple yet thoughtful questions and ideas, such as, “Spring can be warm but sometimes cold,” “We sweat in summer,” and “Why is winter so cold?”—showing a growing interest in the natural world.

We will continue to value the children’s observations and nurture their curiosity, supporting their inquiry and understanding throughout the year.