Activity analysis in preschools and kindergartens : background, aims and methods of this study

The aim of this study is to newly discover growth and richness of learning among children in day-care. For that aim, this study mainly addresses the whereabouts of background and methods of this study, points out the current situation where research exchanges between day-care and school education are not actively carried out, and explains the intent of the research, i.e. promoting research exchange by applying methods of research on school education to day-care. According to the aims, by means of the approach of lesson study that is widely used in school education as the research method, we picked out and analyzed a day-care setting. Results of this study found out the following four points: 1. The setting consists of problem-solving activities forming questions-and-answers. 2. Learning is made up between the concerned children, however, learning in the class cannot be confirmed. 3. The learning stems from questioning, which was conducted by the teacher following the accidental occurrence of trouble. 4. The setting brought up in the field “sociability” of the DVD is accidental and not planned. However, proper guidance from teacher allows children to make judgments and justifications for their behaviors, thereby creating deeper learning. Based on these points, problem-solving activities that educate through questions and answers are conducted in the day-care education field, and establish deep learning in day-care. Considering that the activity is unplanned and accidental, the effect may be limited in terms of taking on learning of children. Furthermore, analyses on activities in actual situations of day-care using methods of lesson study and analysis indicated that these activities would bring deep learning in the verbal expressions and behaviors of children.