It is common to find wall murals in primary schools these days. But I highly doubt that the students pause for a moment and really look at them to revise their Science.

Compare these static murals with this interactive station I came across at the visitor’s centre in Sakurajima. I had to turn the displays so that the seed, dispersal method and plant were all matched. When I pressed the button to indicate that I had made my decision, the displays would light up, thus signifying what a capable Science teacher I am!

I kinda felt sorry for Japanese kids. In Singapore, we just lump everything under dispersal by animals, but it seems that they have to learn specifically the characteristic of the fruit that will flavour dispersal of animals in a particular way. Different fruits get dispersed by different animals in different ways. Detailed and conscientious - that’s the Japanese for you.

I also felt sorry that the kids had to remember the names of fruits, but then again, the children in Sakurajima probably grow up experiencing all these fruits first hand. This is a humble reminder that no matter how exam smart my son may turn out to be, he is not connected to nature unless I make a special effort to do so.