A practice of nature education of preschool children in Japan in early 1900s : From the date of the kindergarten attached to Nara Women's Higher Normal School

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In this research, we analyzed early childhood education practice in regards to the involvement of animals and plants from the date of the kindergarten attached to the Nara Women's Higher Normal School. Recently, annual education diaries, pictures and attendance books were digitized. We analyzed the annual education diary written in 1912 and concluded that early education in the 1910s placed emphasis on having children observe animals and plants. From the date in 1924, it appears that education did not take place in a rigid, pre-set way, in which teachers taught the children according to a certain format, but rather was done in a way in which teachers used the animals and plants found by children as educational themes to explore. Teachers made sure they did not miss the chance to take advantage of the children's interest to educate them. This demonstrates that teachers and children collaborated in the educational process.