Seats Full in Five Minutes! Inside Salesian International Primary’s Summer School

Original Japanese article published Aug. 6, 2026.
日本語版はこちら.

Salesian International Primary School held a summer school for final-year kindergarteners, offering a 100% English-immersion environment with no Japanese support at all. The program focused on hands-on learning, helping children develop scientific thinking and the ability to learn from failure. It proved extremely popular, filling up just five minutes after registration opened.

Fostering Scientific Thinking and Learning Through Failure in a 100% English Environment

A highly popular summer school at Salesian International Primary School filled up just five minutes after registration opened.

From July 27 to 29, the International Class at Salesian International Primary School held the “Salesian Summer School for AG (Advanced Group),” a three-day experiential program for kindergarteners preparing to enter elementary school. Designed to give participants a firsthand feel for the school’s everyday learning environment and atmosphere, the program was conducted in a 100% English immersion environment with no Japanese support at all.

The participants came from diverse backgrounds and had varying levels of English proficiency, including children who had learned English at home, returnees, and children from English-language preschools. They answered teachers’ questions confidently in English and chatted with one another in English without prompting, so that classroom communication was entirely in English.

Beyond Screen Time: Learning Through Hands-On Experiences and Embracing Failure

When people think of a summer school, the first question that often comes to mind is, “What kind of programs will children experience in English?” What particularly caught our attention this time was the school’s strong emphasis on stepping away from screens and focusing on hands-on learning, almost as a counterpoint to today’s digital environment.

Today’s children are growing up surrounded by smartphones and tablets from an early age, and concerns have been raised about the relationship between screen time and academic performance. When we spoke with the teachers at the summer school, they explained that they consciously emphasize hands-on learning and time away from screens, with the aim of helping children learn through direct, real-world experiences.

While screens and videos were used occasionally to introduce or summarize parts of the curriculum, most of the program was screen-free. Participants had the opportunity to explore materials firsthand, share their experiences with one another, and exchange ideas, making it a valuable hands-on learning experience in which they came to understand scientific phenomena through direct experience rather than simply watching them on a screen.

Another aspect that stood out was the mindset the teachers emphasized as one of the most important foundations for exploring science. One phrase they offered the children was “We stand on the shoulders of giants.”

Mr. Harris told the participants:

The summer school’s original curriculum was designed to make advanced STEAM concepts typically introduced to middle and high school students accessible to children not yet in elementary school through hands-on, intuitive experiences. The program went beyond simply being fun, encouraging children to develop scientific curiosity and the mindset to take on challenges.

In the following section, we take a closer look at the three-day program, which incorporated STEAM learning that engaged all five senses through a range of hands-on activities.

Day 1: Problem-Solving Quest (Logical Thinking and Programming)

Using an adorable programmable robot, the children took on a series of adventure-style “quests,” navigating the robot across a game board to reach designated destinations. They worked out the instructions themselves, deciding how many spaces the robot should move and when it should turn, then programmed a sequence of commands and tested their ideas through trial and error as they worked toward their goals.

Along the way, they could also make the robot play music or light up, adding a playful, game-like element to the experience. Through these activities, the children gained their first taste of the fundamentals of computational thinking and programming.

Day 2: Exploring States of Matter and Texture (Chemistry: Properties and Cycles of Matter)

Using familiar substances such as water and milk, the children learned about the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Rather than dismissing their questions, such as “Is food a liquid?” and “What about bread?”, the teachers widened the conversation and went on to the water cycle, including rain, snow, and water vapor.

To help the children experience the three states of matter through movement, they had fun striking different poses through dances and games. They also made their own colorful slime, with a surprise “slime dance” set to upbeat music adding a playful twist to the activity.

As a final touch, the children placed small rubber ducks and bouncy balls on top of their slime. Watching the objects slowly sink was a built-in prompt to wonder about density and specific gravity.

Day 3: The Three Little Pigs Wind-Resistance Test and Kinetic Energy (Physics and Structural Engineering)

On the final day, the children explored the concept of kinetic energy through a large-scale domino project that filled the classroom, inspired by the kind of chain-reaction contraptions seen in PythagoraSwitch. They also took on a structural engineering challenge inspired by the fairy tale The Three Little Pigs, designing and building structures strong enough to withstand a wind-resistance test.

In just one day, the children tackled two projects.

With one of the teachers playing the wolf and calling out “I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in!” the children worked in groups to figure out how to build a house that could withstand the wind from a hair dryer. They built their houses from terracotta blocks, wooden sticks, and fuzzy pipe cleaners in place of straw. As the tests varied in distance and angle, the children showed impressive creativity, reinforcing connection points and experimenting with different roof designs to make their structures stronger.

Parents Sharing in Their Children’s Interests and Growth Over Three Days

At the closing ceremony on the final day, the teachers called each child by name, praised them for their efforts throughout the three-day program, and presented each participant with a gift tucked inside a drawstring bag featuring the school logo. Inside was a message that gave a glimpse of everyday life at Salesian International Primary School: when the children have done their best, they praise themselves with a “Well done, me!”

Each child received a message card recognizing their efforts, as well as sweets made by the school’s religious order, which are said to be a favorite with students at Catholic schools, and character-themed treats popular with elementary school children.

The summer school gave participants the opportunity to spend three days in the actual classrooms of Salesian International Primary School, where classes take place every day, alongside teachers from the International Class and other children their age. Spending three days at the school likely gave them a valuable glimpse into what everyday school life might feel like after enrollment.

Despite being a paid program costing several tens of thousands of yen, the summer school proved extremely popular, with all places filled within just five minutes of registration opening. Part of the appeal may be that, rather than a one-hour trial lesson, it offered a total of six hours of learning and activities over three days.

Parents also appreciated being able to see what their children were experiencing through timely updates posted on Instagram Stories and other channels throughout the program. Another thoughtful touch was having all participants wear matching original T-shirts, which helped build excitement even before the summer school began.

Upcoming Events and Admissions Schedule

The International Class at Salesian International Primary School has the following trial programs and information sessions scheduled.

On August 27, 2026 (Thursday), the school will hold a GrapeSEED trial program for SG (Standard Group), designed for children with little or no prior experience learning English. Titled “Trial English Lesson for SG,” the program is centered around the theme of “a child’s first English lesson at elementary school,” giving participants a chance to experience what an English class at the school is like. Around 100 kindergarteners are expected to take part. The program also proved highly popular, with reservations filling up within just a few hours.

The following week, on September 5, 2026 (Saturday), the school will hold an admissions experience session and application information session for both AG (Advanced Group) and SG (Standard Group) students.

Reservations for the information session can be made through the miraicompass website below.

miraicompass Registration Page

For children, the program will include an opportunity to experience a mock entrance examination. Parents will receive detailed information about the application process and the online interview.

For families who have only recently discovered Salesian International Primary School, as well as parents of younger children who are not yet in their final year of kindergarten, a Third School Information Session will also be held on the same day. Principal Kiyomichi Ohashi, known for leading the educational reforms at Hiroo Gakuen and Mita International School of Science, is expected to speak.

Contact

School: Salesian International Primary School, International Class
Address: 4-2-14 Akabane-dai, Kita-ku, Tokyo 115-8524, Japan
International Class Direct: +81-3-3906-0222
Email: primary@salesian.seibi.ac.jp
Official Website: Salesian International Primary School, International Class