What does “environment” mean at YBS?
Is it the classroom where children learn every day?
The gym where they run and play?
The forest where they discover insects and plants?
The farm they visit on a field trip?
Or the local community where they meet new people and experience something different?
At YBS, we believe the answer is all of these—and much more.
A child’s learning environment is not limited to the four walls of a classroom. The spaces around them, the people they meet, the experiences they have, and the world they explore all become part of their learning journey.
The whole world is our classroom.
So, let’s take a look at the many environments that make learning at YBS special.
Spaces That Inspire Learning
YBS is located on the campus of Kanagawa Dental University, giving our children access to a unique environment where education, nature, physical activity, and community come together.
Our facilities are not simply places for children to spend their school day. They are spaces designed to support different kinds of learning, movement, creativity, exploration, and connection.
Our Classrooms: Where Every Child Feels Safe and Belongs
Our classrooms are where much of our everyday learning begins—with joy, excitement, and curiosity.
They are places where children communicate, create, learn, and work together. Depending on their age and interests, children experience a variety of activities and learnings that encourage them to become active participants in their own learning.
But learning does not stop when children leave the classroom.
Freedom to Move, Joy to Discover!
Physical activity is an important part of children’s development at YBS.
Our access to the large gym facilities on the Dental University campus gives children plenty of space to run, move, play, and challenge themselves.
Through exercise and physical activities, children develop not only strength and coordination, but also confidence, perseverance, teamwork, and the joy of being active.
Our YBS balcony provides another important dimension to children’s everyday experiences.
From water play and seasonal activities on the balcony to opportunities to observe nature around the campus, children are encouraged to step outside, use their senses, and discover the world around them.
Sometimes, a change of environment is all it takes to spark a new idea.
Discovering Nature at “Spooky Forest”
One of the unique environments around YBS is our nature area, named as “Spooky Forest.”
Here, children can observe plants, insects, trees, and the changing seasons firsthand.
A tiny insect can become a science lesson.
A fallen leaf can inspire a question.
A change in the weather can lead to a conversation.
Nature gives children endless opportunities to observe, wonder, and discover—and many of these moments begin with something as simple as “Why?”
Learning Beyond the School
But our learning environment does not end at the school gates.
At YBS, we actively create opportunities for children to experience learning in the wider world through field trips, agricultural experiences, cultural activities, and connections with our local community.
Learning Through Field Trips
Field trips allow children to take what they have learned at school and encounter it in the real world.
They might visit a new place, see something for the first time, meet new people, or experience something they could never fully understand from a textbook.
These experiences encourage children to observe, ask questions, communicate, and make connections.
The world becomes something they can experience—not simply something they can read about.
Learning Through Agriculture Project
At YBS Middle School, our Farming Project is about more than just harvesting crops. Through the process, students connect with nature and experience firsthand how food makes its way to our tables.
Planting seeds. Touching the soil. Caring for plants. Harvesting crops. Observing seasonal changes. Learning about agriculture.
Each step offers meaningful learning opportunities.
There is joy in watching something grow with their own hands. These experiences also inspire students to explore environmental and social challenges and think about a more sustainable future.
Our Community Is Our Classroom
We also believe that the people and community around us are part of our learning environment.
By connecting with people of different ages, backgrounds, and experiences, children discover that there are many ways of thinking, living, and contributing to society.
A visit to a local place, an interaction with someone from the community, or an experience shared with others can become a valuable lesson in communication, empathy, and understanding.
Learning becomes real when children can see how it connects to the lives of others.
The Whole World Is Our Classroom
At YBS, we are fortunate to have a variety of spaces where children can learn, play, create, move, and explore.
But our greatest learning environment extends far beyond our classrooms.
It is the world around us.
The classroom.
The gym.
The forest.
The farm.
The neighborhood.
The community.
The places we visit.
The people we meet.
Everywhere we go, there is something to discover.
Every experience can lead to a question.
Every question can lead to another opportunity to learn.
That is why, at YBS, we don’t simply want to create a school where children learn about the world.
We want to create an environment where children can experience the world, connect with it, and discover their place within it.
Because the whole world is our classroom.
Through their preparation and practice, they not only deepened their understanding of Japanese traditions but also developed perseverance, teamwork, and self-confidence. Standing before a large audience, they demonstrated remarkable courage and enthusiasm, earning warm applause from the community.
