Tokyo: Elementary School

Yesterday, I went to an Elementary school to see a part of how the education system works in Japan. The program CIEE set it up. The day started real early since the school we went to is somewhat far away from the main drag of Tokyo. The area looked like a country-side town with only the one train line that ran at the edge. Sort of like the setting of Persona 4.
The school itself was a good size, with 700 students 1st grade to 6th grade. There is only 15 of us in the group and we were each assigned a class. I got 6-3. When we got to the school we found name tags made by are assign class, then the principle gave us a tour. Showing us each grade, the gym, and the music room. The class rooms only had three walls. After that, there was a ceremony in the gym celebrating are arrival with songs, speeches and a traditional drum routine. The drum part was loud but very cool.
A kid from each then came and lead us by the hand to their class. We then had lunch. The children take turn preparing lunch and serving it to the other children. A practice to teach the children how to think of others, to be a part of the community. They all clean up afterwards in a efficient and practice manner then they cleaned the classroom itself. This is also "practice" for being part of the community, I don't know how though. When I asked one of the mothers she said she never thought to ask why. After clean up is recess in which I played a game with the boys that was a mix between dodgeball and catch. There are no winners or losers just running around after the ball.
When recess ended I taught the class how to play hanged man in english. I wrote the english alphabet on the board as a hint, I guess. They had trouble efficiently figure out the word not knowing the basic rules of english like guessing vowels first and staying away from "v", "w", "z" because they hardly show up. However, the teacher of the class would run in to add another hanging post, show the kids would have more chances. It was very funny and cute. The class it self was also very lively. My game was followed by some Japanese games like the face game played on new years. Blindfolded the child tried to place the face features correctly on the face as the group gives advice, shouting up, down, right, left. Another game was like duck-duck-goose. The class sits in a circle, one child holds a handkerchief while running a round the circle drops in behind child B. Child B notices the handkerchief picks it up and tries to tag Child A while Child A runs for Child B's spot. On the other hand if Child B does not notice the handkerchief Child A can try to tag Child B. Whoever gets tag goes to the center of the circle till someone else gets tag. If no one gets tag then Child B has the handkerchief to drop behind someone else. The games were fun.
The whole experience was interesting and fun. I am glad that I went.
Sorry no photos.