Food Education Program Using Sugarcane

Introduction

Overview of the Sugarcane Learning Program

In this program, students began by growing sugarcane, the raw material for sugar, and carried out a series of food education activities that extended all the way to processing the harvested plants into sugar and tasting the final product. Through the lessons, they learned about the characteristics of sugarcane, how it is cultivated, the steps involved in producing sugar, and the effort required in each stage. The aim was to deepen their understanding of the importance of food and plants through firsthand experience.

In the 2012 academic year, the program was conducted four times, once in each season, during the Integrated Studies class for the senior department of Tsuchiura Special Needs Education School. In spring, students planted and observed the sugarcane. In summer, they carried out observations and weeding. In autumn, in addition to observing, they participated in taste-comparison activities using different parts of the sugarcane. In winter, they harvested the sugarcane and made sugar, conducting taste comparisons and measuring sugar content. The sugarcane was grown both at the botanical garden and at the school, where students carried out observations.

To make the lesson easier for students to understand, a quiz-style picture story about sugarcane was prepared, allowing them to learn by answering questions as they went along. In addition, explanatory panels and observation sheets were prepared in advance. As time allowed, the lesson also included activities such as exploring the greenhouse and craft experiences, so that students could enjoy the botanical garden while learning about other plants.

The post-class surveys for teachers showed that, as indicated by the results of Q1 and Q2, the lesson was highly effective and received very high satisfaction ratings. The level of understanding indicated by Q3 was higher in the autumn and winter lessons. This is believed to be due to the hands-on experience of actually tasting and comparing different parts of the sugarcane. In addition, some survey responses indicated that students enjoyed learning through the quiz-style activities using visual materials, which likely contributed to their high level of understanding.

Looking at the survey results throughout the year, it was clear that by engaging in the full process from cultivation and harvesting to processing, students were able to learn how sugar is made from sugarcane through an enjoyable and valuable hands-on experience. The process of making sugar from sugarcane requires a considerable amount of time and effort when done manually, and the amount of sugar produced was very small. However, students carefully savored the sugar they made, which suggested a shift in their awareness and appreciation of both plants and food.

Feedback from Participants After the Year-Long Program

Since the program focused on sugarcane throughout the year, students were able to approach the lessons with clear expectations and increased motivation.
Many students are likely unaware of how sugar is produced. By growing sugarcane and processing it into sugar, they were able to experience the entire process firsthand, which made it easier to understand. It was a valuable experience and very rewarding.
Some students who are usually not very proactive in speaking at school were observed enjoying conversations with staff members.
By participating in the full process of growing sugarcane, harvesting it, and making sugar, students were able to feel closer to sugarcane and seemed to develop a new perspective on sugar.
They gained a clear understanding of what sugar is made from.
It was a very positive experience. Seeing sugarcane and sugar in Okinawa made them feel much more familiar with them. They were surprised to learn that sugar can be made and that sugarcane is sweet.
It was valuable for them to experience the entire process, from small sugarcane plants growing to seeing the sugarcane they had cultivated being turned into sugar.

Go to Spring: "Growing Sugarcane (Integrated Studies Class)" page