The 77th Osaka City Junior High School Science Research Conference (Presentation Division): “The Story of Soil Told by Saprotrophic Fungi - Ability to Decompose Specific Materials”

Today (September 13), the conference was held at facilities of Osaka Kyoiku University in Teradacho.
From our school, three projects were nominated for the Presentation Division and nine for the Exhibition Division.
Here is a brief report on one presentation: “The Story of Soil Told by Saprotrophic Fungi - Ability to Decompose Specific Materials.”

What the presentation covered
Students investigated saprotrophic fungi in school soil using everyday materials. They buried Someiyoshino cherry twigs for about six months from winter to spring at depths of 5 centimeters, 10 centimeters, and 20 centimeters behind the school in a shady, damp area. During summer, they buried Houttuynia cordata leaves at the same depths for about two months. After recovery, they observed appearance and smell, and split the twigs to check for discoloration near the bark.

The twigs showed little change on the surface; inside, slight discoloration appeared near the bark, and the smell was earthy rather than woody. The leaves were not found at any depth, and an ant nest was noted nearby. The students concluded that clear twig decay was not demonstrated within the short period, while the leaves may have been broken down by saprotrophic fungi and or insects and molds. They also noted that warmer seasons, longer burial time, and the type of material affect the pace of decomposition.

Principal’s reflection
I was impressed by the idea of testing decomposition with familiar soil and plant matter. I felt the careful observations and safe handling showed steady growth. Next time, I would like to see a longer duration, additional plant types and depths, and records of soil moisture, temperature, and acidity, as well as control plots and fixed-point photo records to make the results even clearer.

Keywords: Hokuryo Junior High School / science research / saprotrophic fungi / wood-decay fungi / Someiyoshino / Houttuynia cordata / burial test / soil ecology / decomposition / inquiry-based learning

All posted photos were taken with school-owned cameras, transferred via a wired connection to staff PCs, and uploaded to the website from a securely managed environment.

The 77th Osaka City Junior High School Science Research Conference (Presentation Division): “Fossil Survey in the Yuasa Formation, Wakayama”

Today (September 13), the conference was held at facilities of Osaka Kyoiku University in Teradachō.
From our school, three projects were nominated for the Presentation Division and nine for the Exhibition Division.
Here is a brief report on one presentation: “Fossil Survey in the Yuasa Formation, Wakayama.”

What the presentation covered
Science Club students reported on four field surveys at Shiraki Beach in Hirogawa Town, Wakayama, where the Yuasa Formation (Early Cretaceous) is exposed. They collected plant, bivalve, and gastropod fossils; cleaned specimens, coated them with a diluted wood-glue solution, and prepared labels specifying the fossil name, locality, formation, geologic age, and date.
Using simple checks—surface color and residue for plant compressions, and a small drop of dilute acid to help confirm shells—they organized the finds and considered what the assemblage says about the past environment. Based on many plant remains together with brackish-water bivalves, they suggested a sequence: vegetation developed on land, then subsidence or sea-level rise led to brackish conditions where bivalves settled and were buried, and later uplift formed today’s shoreline. The team also expressed thanks to Mr. Masaaki Obara (Wakayama Prefectural Museum) for identification guidance and to Mr. Hiroshi Ando (Osaka City Jōtō Junior High School) for field support.

Principal’s reflection
I was impressed by how the students combined careful field safety, specimen care, and straightforward tests to build a clear environmental story. I felt their step-by-step reasoning was easy to follow and educational. In future work, I would like to see them add simple stratigraphic logs and site maps, repeat sampling across seasons, and compare with museum reference collections to make their conclusions even more robust.

Keywords: Hokuryō Junior High School / science research / Yuasa Formation / Wakayama / Shiraki Beach / fossils / plant compression / bivalve / gastropod / field survey / inquiry-based learning

All posted photos were taken with school-owned cameras, transferred via a wired connection to staff PCs, and uploaded to the website from a securely managed environment.

The 77th Osaka City Junior High School Science Research Conference (Presentation Division): “The Magic of Water, Shade, and Wind”

Today (September 13), the conference was held at facilities of Osaka Kyoiku University in Teradachō.
From our school, three projects were nominated for the Presentation Division and nine for the Exhibition Division.
Here is a brief report on one presentation: “The Magic of Water, Shade, and Wind — Staying Cool without Air-Conditioning.”

What the presentation covered
Students introduced practical ways to lower temperature without relying on air-conditioning: sprinkling water at the main gate (uchimizu), creating shade with a morning-glory green curtain, and ventilating the science room while comparing with and without a fan.
Using their own trials, they showed that each method brings a cooling effect. Uchimizu works quickly outdoors, ventilation plus a fan improves the indoor feeling of coolness, and the green curtain both creates shade and, through leaf transpiration, helps the air feel fresher.

Reflection
I was impressed by how students treated a familiar environmental challenge as their own and connected data with hands-on action. I felt their steady preparation and careful measurements showed real growth. I would like to see them add factors such as humidity and wind, and repeat measurements under the same conditions to make their findings even more convincing.

Keywords: Hokuryō Junior High School / science research / Osaka City Junior High School Science Research Conference / presentation / The Magic of Water, Shade, and Wind / uchimizu / green curtain / ventilation / environmental learning / inquiry-based learning

All posted photos were taken with school-owned cameras, transferred via a wired connection to staff PCs, and uploaded to the website from a securely managed environment.