#Japan #Okayama #Okayama University #science workshop #Kainoki Club

Okayama University Hosts Kids' Science Experiment Workshop

On August 25, 2025, Okayama University's Technical Department organized the 'Kainoki Wakuwaku Experiment Classroom 2025' at the Kainoki Kids' Club located in the Tsushima campus. This exciting event targeted elementary school children to ignite their interest in science and technology.

The workshop featured two different themes for fifth and sixth graders: 'Creating an Original Piggy Bank with a 3D Printer' and 'Building a Spectrometer'. The younger children, comprising first to fourth graders, engaged in four fun activities: 'Playing with Slime', 'Making Bath Bombs', 'Creating a Kaleidoscope from a Plastic Bottle', and 'Making Artificial Ikura' (fish roe).

A total of nine fifth and sixth graders participated in the 3D printing activity. They split into two groups—one dedicated to designing the lid of the piggy bank on computers, while the other focused on decorating the bank's body with paint and markers. The technical staff provided individualized support, helping the children to create unique designs for both the lid and the piggy bank.

During the explanation and demonstration of the 3D printer's principles, the kids displayed a keen interest, asking numerous questions that highlighted their curiosity about the technology. Nine participants were also involved in making the spectrometer, where they learned about light wave variations and diffraction phenomena, ultimately observing the spectrum of light (rainbow colors). The children skillfully utilized cutters and scissors, demonstrating serious commitment to their craft. They explored differences in the spectra of various white light sources such as sunlight, fluorescent lights, and LED lamps while using computers to recreate various colors by combining the primary colors of light (red, green, blue).

Younger children, numbering thirty-three, rotated through four themed activities. Following 'Playing with Slime', they added a new popular activity, 'Making Artificial Ikura'. In the 'Making Bath Bombs' session, they chose colors and scents to create personal bath bombs. For 'Creating a Kaleidoscope from a Plastic Bottle', the facilitators had prepared half-cut plastic bottles to simplify the process, allowing the children to start by assembling triangle mirrors and select their favorite marbles, beads, and clips to create their original kaleidoscopes.

Technical researchers from last year's event also participated, contributing their expertise. Masayuki Miyake, one of the researchers, remarked, "It was wonderful to see children engaging with hands-on experiences like making slime and kaleidoscopes. Through experiments and crafting with familiar materials, it was evident that they were fascinated by science. The event provided an excellent opportunity for them to nurture their creativity and curiosity."

Fujin Sato, the Dean of the Technical Department, expressed how meaningful it was for faculty members to share scientific excitement with their children, termed as 'Okayama University’s partners in learning.' He hopes this initiative fosters a love for science and a connection to 'Okayama University'.

This community contribution and scientific awareness initiative, co-sponsored by the Faculty of Engineering, aims to continuously provide engaging experiences for children to explore science excitedly. The Okayama University Technical Department looks forward to creating further opportunities for the local community while continuing its commitment to science education.

The Kainoki Kids' Club plays a vital role in supporting work-life balance for university staff by offering childcare during long breaks, such as summer and winter vacations, enabling parents to focus on both their children and their professional responsibilities.

For more information about Okayama University's Technical Department, you can visit their official site. Additionally, more details about the Kainoki Kids' Club can be found here.

The event announcement was made public by Okayama University on October 8, 2025.