Since it was founded in 1966, “Machida Kobato Kindergarten” has been providing early childhood
education and care to contribute to the education that promotes <”active-learning” from which thechildren will gain “positive attitudes towards problem-solving and living together”> for the region for over
50 years. And on the 18th March 2019, our long contribution of childhood education programme has beenrecognized and we became an authorized Primary Years Programme (PYP) IB (InternationalBaccalaureate) World School. We became the first kindergarten in metropolitan Tokyo certified both by IBand the Japanese government*, and the third such facility nationwide. *Certified by the Japanese government:
Schools defined as primarily legitimated schools Article 1 of the School Education Act
When we think of the future of children of today, education for their future should not only be the current and the pastknowledge accumulation and its acquisition, but also need to include obtaining 'thinking skill', and gaining a internationalmindedness not only as a Japanese person but as a member of the world, the earth.
All the teachers and personnel of Machida Kobato Kindergarten keep IB's "Learner Profile" in our mind to implement, towork collaboratively with parents and guardians, through understanding of cultural diversity and spirit of respect, we areaiming to foster international-minded, inquisitive, knowledgeable and caring young people to contribute to create a betterand more peaceful world.

What is The International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP)?
The PYP (Primary Years Programme) is an educational programme managed by the International Baccalaureate (IB) for
students aged 3 to 12, PYP prepares students to become active, caring, lifelong learners who demonstrate respect forthemselves and others and have the capacity to participate in the world around them. It focuses on the development of thewhole child. The curriculum framework is uniquely adaptable to state and national standards, arranged within six"transdisciplinary themes" and the six subject areas. Guided by six transdisciplinary themes of global significance, students
deepen their learning by developing their conceptual understandings; strengthening their knowledge and skills across andbeyond subject areas.
<Six transdisciplinary themes>
Who we are
Where we are in place and time
How we express ourselves
How the world works
How we organize ourselves
Sharing the planet<Six subject areas>
LanguageSocial studies
Mathematics
ArtsScience
Personal, social and physical education

Inquiry Activities of PYP
The base of the IB Education is children initiated Inquiry-based learning. The difference
between the investigative learning is that IB learning challenges students to thinkthemselves in accordance with "6 transdisciplinary themes" which worth knowing, and forchildren to explore ideas of "global significance". Deeply connect with things or issues
children are moved or touched their heart or wanting to learn, and take it into deeper
learning, and apply and lead those knowledge to "action" which will lead to theknowledge/skills to live.
With PYP, units are planned for children not only to acquire knowledge but also todevelop overarching skills which relate to learning subjects / curriculum, in order to bewell prepared for lifelong learning. And those of the above are the important factor in the
new government curriculum guidelines. We believe those attitude and skills will definitely
support fully the complexities of the lives of the students in the future.
Let's go for a tour
around the facitilies
with essence of nature

Our Facility

In central Europe some people call their children “Sisi” withaffection, and it has a meaning “little pigeon”.

⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘Ground of Lights

Sora no Hiroba

School Hall

Colorful light is reflected onto the ground, creating animmersive, polychrome world. Movable tent gives agood shade to cut the direct sunlight during thesummer season, protecting children from ultraviolet ray.

An open and spacious place with huge hammock appeared
right above the school garden. Enjoy walking in the sky or
running around the track.

Our hall has basketball hoops equipped as well, making
it possible to move and play even on the rainy day. We
also use the hall for various events such as ceremonies
and exhibitions.

At Kobato, we started implementing English
education in the classes since 1996 (8th Heisei)
for children to reduce their confusion andworries when they go to primary school andEnglish
start learning English. We are hoping children
to learn and get familiar with English while
their brain is best able to absorb language, through plays ineveryday life just as we all have acquired the Japanese language.
By associating with several experienced native English teachingexperts together, not only memorizing words but also we haveopportunities and environments for output as well as receiving
inputs of phrases and sentences. We also have Garden Class (pre-Kopen playground) for 0 year old and over, and by accumulating
experiences from 2 year old class to be exposed to “Live English

We have weekly swimming class with our PE
teacher in our indoor heated swimming poolthroughout a year from Nensho. Having
opportunities actively involved with waterfrom early childhood to dispel the fears ofSwimming
water and to make the basis of strong body, as
Gymnastics
well as nurturing a strong heart to challengewith all the thing they may face. With children who were fearing
water at first, gradually becoming able to put the face in the water,then dive under the water, and as going through the growing
process, they begin to show bright happy faces. We are targeting to
be able to float, and to swim by the time of graduation. During midsummer, we have pools outside and enjoy play with water under thesun.

language”, andacquire “UsefulEnglish”.

From Nenchu grade,
we start to haveapparatus
gymnastics andphysical exercises
such as ball playing
to learn rules to play
as a group.

“Rhythm class” is a physical expression classadopting elements of “Eurhythmics” and“Dance”. It’s been said that making body
movements and listening to music, enhances
Rhythmthe brain development and is also deeply
related with emotional development.
In this class, we are to cultivate sense of rhythm and music,
concentration, skills to express freely, agility, flexibility and etc.
Children take the lessons consistently for 4 years starting fromLittle Room (Pre-K) through Nensho (K1), Nenchu (K2) to Nencho(K3) by our dance teacher, and by the last term of Nencho grade,they are able to make different movements with arms and legs, aswell as expressing themselves actively. It also develops caring
others andcommunication
skills by making
movements
together withfriends.

Journey to Sado Island (39th in 2019)
Every year during the summer holidays,
Nencho students (and few graduates) take ajourney to Sado Island without parents.
Destination is "Marchen Kobato"; the little
Sadohouse children stay for 3 nights and 4 days. AtKobato, we go on excursions without parents
accompanies from Nensho grade, and get some experience to beaway from parents.We take the excursion and sleepover events asimportant opportunities for developing independence of children.
Surrounded by the slow and quiet rural scenery, children experienceto think themselves, take action themselves, and overcome
problems themselves through staying and sharing together in"Marchen Kobato" with friends, and through events such as playing
at the beach, visiting
mine, campfire andetc. Many parents
get to realise thegrowth of children
when they see
children's proud
faces at the returnto Machida station.

⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘Indoor Heated Swimming Pool

Handmade Oven

Mini Shinkansen

Indoor heated swimming pool for all seasons.
Help development of children’s basic physical strength.

We bake sweet potatoes, pizza, and etc…
It makes cooking more enjoyable, looking into the actual fire.

Mini shinkansen operates on the railway track whichruns through the school garden. Operating at theGarden class (pre-K open playground).
All the children’s favourite.

We have variety of classes for children from 0 year old at Machida Kobato Kindergarten.
Gain experience by having interactions with people other than own families
in appropriate environments corresponding to the age and development stages,
to cultivate and develop the abilities.