Grammar: Learning About Homophones

Alongside our inquiry learning, we also focused on strengthening our English language skills through a lesson on homophones. Students explored commonly confused word pairs, including where / were / wear / we’re, and your / you’re. Through examples, discussion, and short practice activities, students learned how these words sound the same but have different meanings and uses.

Students practiced identifying the correct word based on context and explaining why it was the best choice. This lesson helped them become more confident and accurate writers, while also encouraging careful reading and thinking about meaning. These language skills support their learning across subjects and help them communicate their ideas more clearly.

探究学習と並行して、英語の力を高めるために同音異義語（ホモフォーン）の学習も行いました。where / were / wear / we’re や your / you’re など、間違えやすい単語の組み合わせについて、それぞれの意味や使い方を確認しました。

例文や話し合い、練習問題を通して、文の意味に合った正しい単語を選ぶ練習をしました。子どもたちは、「なぜその単語なのか」を考えながら取り組み、読み書きの正確さを高めることができました。これらの言語スキルは、他の教科の学習や、自分の考えを分かりやすく伝える力にもつながっています。

Inquiry: Our Visit to Matsushiro Castle

This week, we visited Matsushiro Castle as part of our ongoing Tradition and Heritage unit. Leading up to the trip, students spent time preparing by looking closely at historical photographs, discussing what we could learn from ruins, and practicing how to observe carefully and take notes. We talked about how buildings, materials, and locations can give us clues about how people lived and what was important to them in the past.

During the visit, students listened to the guide, recorded key information, and made their own observations as we walked around the castle grounds. They paid attention to details such as the layout, stone walls, and surrounding environment, connecting what they saw to our classroom learning about problem-solving and community protection in the past. The visit helped make our inquiry more concrete and meaningful, turning prior learning into real-life understanding.

今週は、「伝統と文化遺産」ユニットの一環として、松代城跡を訪れました。見学に向けて、事前に歴史的な写真を見たり、城跡からどのようなことが読み取れるのかを話し合ったりしながら、観察やメモの取り方について準備を進めてきました。建物の形や材料、場所から、昔の人々の暮らしや大切にしていたことが分かるという視点を持って学習しました。

当日は、ガイドの話を聞きながら大切な情報を書き留め、自分自身の気づきも記録しました。石垣や城の配置、周囲の環境などに注目し、昔の人々がどのように工夫して地域を守っていたのかを考える姿が見られました。これまでの学びが実体験とつながり、探究がより深まる貴重な時間となりました。