5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
[HGG03-P05] The significance and challenges of teaching the use and management of bamboo forests in school education
Keywords:Satoyama, bamboo forest, environmental teaching material, school education
Bamboo forests have been used in various ways for human life for many years, but in the past several decades, they have not been properly managed and are often left abandoned, contributing to the degradation of Satoyama. We believe that the current state of bamboo forests can be a good teaching material to raise awareness of the use of natural resources and the environment among university students and children, and have been working on teaching practices using bamboo and bamboo forests for the past 10 years.
Specifically, in a class subject in a university teacher training course that is modeled after elementary school life studies, the students have conducted experiences such as visiting bamboo forests, cutting bamboo, making bamboo crafts, and burning bamboo charcoal, and have collaborated with elementary schools to create and play bamboo instruments, learn about Tanabata, and burn bamboo charcoal. As a result, it was confirmed that bamboo and bamboo forests can be effective teaching materials that span multiple subjects. However, whether it is a university class or collaboration with an elementary school, it tends to be a one-off experience, and it is true that it is difficult to achieve effective results in addressing local issues such as the problem of abandoned bamboo forests.
Therefore, starting in 2023, in collaboration with an agricultural high school that has close ties to the local agriculture, they will be working with farmers in the bamboo forests of the Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, a bamboo shoot producing area, to try to spread the effects of their activities to the local area through year-round bamboo use (bamboo shoot harvesting, bamboo forest maintenance, pickles making, playing with bamboo with elementary school students, exchanges with agricultural high schools in other regions, etc.).
In order to build a sustainable relationship with the bamboo forests, a natural resource of Satoyama, it would be a good idea for a variety of schools to try providing such experience opportunities for the younger generation.
Specifically, in a class subject in a university teacher training course that is modeled after elementary school life studies, the students have conducted experiences such as visiting bamboo forests, cutting bamboo, making bamboo crafts, and burning bamboo charcoal, and have collaborated with elementary schools to create and play bamboo instruments, learn about Tanabata, and burn bamboo charcoal. As a result, it was confirmed that bamboo and bamboo forests can be effective teaching materials that span multiple subjects. However, whether it is a university class or collaboration with an elementary school, it tends to be a one-off experience, and it is true that it is difficult to achieve effective results in addressing local issues such as the problem of abandoned bamboo forests.
Therefore, starting in 2023, in collaboration with an agricultural high school that has close ties to the local agriculture, they will be working with farmers in the bamboo forests of the Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, a bamboo shoot producing area, to try to spread the effects of their activities to the local area through year-round bamboo use (bamboo shoot harvesting, bamboo forest maintenance, pickles making, playing with bamboo with elementary school students, exchanges with agricultural high schools in other regions, etc.).
In order to build a sustainable relationship with the bamboo forests, a natural resource of Satoyama, it would be a good idea for a variety of schools to try providing such experience opportunities for the younger generation.