Our First Train Excursion: Orbi Yokohama
Preschool
November 16, 2018
On November 5, we finally took our excursion to Orbi Yokohama in Minato Mirai, after the original date had been postponed because of rain.
Some Mountain children had visited with their families before, and everyone had been looking forward to going with their classmates for days.
Traveling there together by train added another layer of excitement.
The outing grew from our earlier “Zookeeper” theme. At Orbi Yokohama, children could see keepers caring for animals and observe and touch animals themselves.
At the time of our visit, Orbi offered much more than animal encounters: there was a room where visitors could experience the extreme cold of Mount Kenya, a play area inspired by giant insects, and photo spots where children could become zebras or tigers. There was plenty to enjoy.
We could not try every activity, but the children had so much fun that they looked thoroughly tired out when we returned to school.
Our first stop was Animal Garden. Alongside birds such as owls and parrots, we saw capybaras, large tortoises, snakes and meerkats.
Children enjoyed touching the bumpy tortoise shells, and some bravely reached out to touch their legs too.
Each child had an opportunity to touch a meerkat. Some were a little afraid, but their determined expressions as they reached toward this unfamiliar animal showed real curiosity.
The Mount Kenya experience, with strong winds and temperatures of approximately minus 20°C, required a little courage.
Some children shrieked with excitement. Others looked uneasy as we moved from a refrigerator-temperature room into a 0°C room and felt it getting colder. Some chose not to enter the final minus 20°C room. Even so, it was a valuable experience for children who were interested in Mount Kenya, a mountain taller than Mount Fuji.
In Animal Studio, we could touch small animals including chicks, rabbits, lizards and hedgehogs. We can learn about animals in a classroom, but direct observation and contact introduced smells, soft fur, rough skin and the little prick of a beak. The children enjoyed a special opportunity to learn through their senses.
Because the nearest station was just one stop from school, taking the train also provided a chance to learn about public manners and community life. Beforehand, we discussed what it means to bother other passengers. This was a difficult idea, but one child explained it as “making people around you feel unhappy.” From there, the children suggested their own rules: do not speak loudly, do not run on the train, and, as the older Mountain children, leave the seats for others.
On the day, everyone lined up properly and stayed close to the teachers while using the train.
Using tickets and going up and down the station stairs made the children’s excited faces shine.
They gained so many experiences on this outing. We look forward to continuing to learn and grow through enjoyable, real-world encounters.
Some Mountain children had visited with their families before, and everyone had been looking forward to going with their classmates for days.
Traveling there together by train added another layer of excitement.
The outing grew from our earlier “Zookeeper” theme. At Orbi Yokohama, children could see keepers caring for animals and observe and touch animals themselves.
At the time of our visit, Orbi offered much more than animal encounters: there was a room where visitors could experience the extreme cold of Mount Kenya, a play area inspired by giant insects, and photo spots where children could become zebras or tigers. There was plenty to enjoy.
We could not try every activity, but the children had so much fun that they looked thoroughly tired out when we returned to school.
Our first stop was Animal Garden. Alongside birds such as owls and parrots, we saw capybaras, large tortoises, snakes and meerkats.
Children enjoyed touching the bumpy tortoise shells, and some bravely reached out to touch their legs too.
Each child had an opportunity to touch a meerkat. Some were a little afraid, but their determined expressions as they reached toward this unfamiliar animal showed real curiosity.
The Mount Kenya experience, with strong winds and temperatures of approximately minus 20°C, required a little courage.
Some children shrieked with excitement. Others looked uneasy as we moved from a refrigerator-temperature room into a 0°C room and felt it getting colder. Some chose not to enter the final minus 20°C room. Even so, it was a valuable experience for children who were interested in Mount Kenya, a mountain taller than Mount Fuji.
In Animal Studio, we could touch small animals including chicks, rabbits, lizards and hedgehogs. We can learn about animals in a classroom, but direct observation and contact introduced smells, soft fur, rough skin and the little prick of a beak. The children enjoyed a special opportunity to learn through their senses.
Because the nearest station was just one stop from school, taking the train also provided a chance to learn about public manners and community life. Beforehand, we discussed what it means to bother other passengers. This was a difficult idea, but one child explained it as “making people around you feel unhappy.” From there, the children suggested their own rules: do not speak loudly, do not run on the train, and, as the older Mountain children, leave the seats for others.
On the day, everyone lined up properly and stayed close to the teachers while using the train.
Using tickets and going up and down the station stairs made the children’s excited faces shine.
They gained so many experiences on this outing. We look forward to continuing to learn and grow through enjoyable, real-world encounters.
Author Profile
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Saeda Sueki-Au-Yeung - Head of Operations / Parent Support Coordinator Japan
Saeda studied education and disability sciences in Japan and experienced winning a US collegiate national championship while studying and playing football in America. She values each child's individuality and the opportunities that come from trying new things. Through school operations and parent support, she helps families and staff work as one team to support children's growth.