Learning to take care of living things is such an important part of our education especially here at Hibarigaoka Gakuen Elementary School. 

Caring for living things like plants and animals in a school setting provides numerous benefits for students.

Here are five things that students can gain:

1. Responsibility and Empathy: Students learn about commitment and accountability by taking on the daily tasks of feeding, watering, and cleaning up after a plant or animal. This hands-on experience teaches them to be aware of the needs of others and helps them develop a sense of empathy and compassion.
2. Increased Engagement and Academic Learning: Living things can serve as a powerful educational tool. They make abstract scientific concepts like life cycles, ecosystems, and biology tangible and exciting. Students are more motivated to learn when they have a direct, hands-on connection to the subject matter.
3. Stress Reduction and Improved Well-being: Interacting with plants and animals has been shown to have a calming effect and can reduce stress and anxiety. The presence of living things in the classroom and at home can create a more positive and comfortable learning environment, which can improve students’ overall emotional well-being.
4. Social Skills and Teamwork: When students share the responsibility of caring for a plant or animal, they learn to collaborate and work together as a team. This shared experience can help break the ice, foster communication, and build a sense of community within the classroom, which is especially beneficial for students who may struggle with social interactions.
5. Patience and Observation Skills: Caring for a living thing requires patience. Students learn that growth and development take time, whether they are waiting for a seed to sprout or a pet to mature. This process also encourages them to become more observant, as they must pay close attention to the needs and behaviors of the living thing they are caring for.

I hope the students of Hibarigaoka Gakuen can find the joy in growing plants at school and at home as well.