Giving Science Classes at Elementary and Junior High Schools in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture
In September and October, employees from the IHI Soma Works held science classes at elementary and junior high schools in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture, where the office is located.
On September 17 and October 1, 2, 8 and 9, IHI held classes entitled “Exploring the Secrets of Jet Engines” for 283 seventh-grade students from three junior high schools in Soma City. Through lectures and experiments, the students gained a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of the airplane jet engines which are IHI’s main product. IHI employees from Soma Works served as instructors for the classes. The instructors used teaching materials jointly developed by IHI and Ochanomizu University (Institute for Science & Education).
In the first half of the classes, instructors explained the history and mechanism of jet engines. In the second half, students conducted an experiment using plastic bottle cars. The purpose of the experiment was to solve the mystery of why engineers have increased the size of jet engine fans. In the experiment, students used propellers instead of fans and drove plastic bottle cars with different sized propellers around their gymnasium, measuring the travel time and distance. By comparing differences in speed depending on the size of the propeller, the students themselves explored the secrets of jet engines.
Many of the participating students were family members of IHI employees. Some students even called out and greeted the instructors when they recognized their IHI uniforms. We received positive feedback from students, who enjoyed learning in an environment that differed from their usual classes.
During the three-day program from October 22 to 24, we provided science classes on the theme of “The Functions of Forests and Soil” to 80 sixth-grade students from three elementary schools in Soma City. The classes were designed to teach students the importance of protecting the rich natural environment and maintaining ecosystems through the observation of soil life that lives in their surrounding area. The classes were taught by Kazuya Yoshimura, a Project Associate Professor at the Ochanomizu University Institute for Science & Education. Employees from Soma Works were also present during the classes to provide support and assist students.
In the first half of the classes, Project Associate Professor Yoshimura explained the process by which forests are formed and the role of soil life in the food chain in the forest. He also explained how to use a stereo microscope that allows viewing with both eyes.
In the second half, students used stereo microscopes to observe springtails and other soil life that lives in soil collected from the IHI Soma Works and the grounds of each elementary school. The students researched and sketched the soil life which they observed. The students found a large amount of soil life and engage in careful observation while asking many questions to Project Associate Professor Yoshimura.
The IHI Group is holding science classes to increase children’s interest in science by giving them first-hand experiences of the joys of experiments and observations. IHI will continue to actively engage in activities for nurturing youngsters who will become the next generation of engineers.