Transforming Science Class with the “Incredible Encyclopedia”! A Tablet-Guided Dive into the Microscopic World of Insects!
Hi, I’m Ken Kuwako, a science trainer. Every day is an experiment!
【This article is also available as a podcast!】
Today, I’m excited to introduce a truly “incredible” teaching tool: the digital encyclopedia provided by NHK for School, “Incredible Encyclopedia”!
https://www.nhk.or.jp/school/zukan/
This is no ordinary digital encyclopedia. It lets you observe creatures from every angle, as if you’re holding them in your hands, and even experience the microscopic world that’s invisible to the naked eye. I can confidently say that for teaching the “Invertebrates” unit in middle school science, especially for observing insects, there is no other tool as powerful as this one.
“But aren’t digital materials just about watching videos?” you might ask. No, not at all! The “Incredible Encyclopedia” is an interactive tool that lets students actively engage and experience the joy of discovery for themselves. Just imagine students engrossed in observing insects with their Chromebooks or tablets. Can’t you see their eyes light up with that “Aha!” moment?
In this article, I’ll provide a detailed guide on how to make the most of the “Incredible Encyclopedia” in a middle school science class, including specific preparation steps, required materials, and lesson procedures, all from a professional writer’s perspective. So, let’s unlock your students’ intellectual curiosity together with the “Incredible Encyclopedia”!
The content is particularly rich for insects, making it a perfect fit for the middle school “Invertebrates” unit. Since it’s usable on tablets, it’s also great for sketching insects. For example, let’s take a look at this Oriental migratory locust. The photos I’m about to show you are cited from the NHK for School “Incredible Encyclopedia”.
https://www.nhk.or.jp/school/zukan/#grasshopper
Click the “Start Observation” button, and you have complete freedom. You can look down on it,
and when you zoom in, points of interest appear.
You can even flip it over.
Here, I’ve zoomed in on a spiracle.
The compound eye even comes with a video. It turns out they have five eyes!
It’s also linked to videos from NHK for School. NHK really has some incredible resources.
There are many other insects to explore. For the rhinoceros beetle, observing its head, thorax, and abdomen is a great idea. Students will likely be surprised to see how small its head is.
The spiracle of an ant even has a photo from an electron microscope.
It’s truly incredible.
Key Points for Deepening Science Knowledge
- Beyond Five Senses: The ability to “magnify,” “rotate,” “observe from behind,” and see from an “electron microscope-level perspective” that is impossible with the naked eye gives students a chance to move beyond the limits of their senses and view phenomena from a scientific standpoint. In particular, observing the compound eye and the minute structure of the spiracles can spark an awareness of the complex systems and diversity of living things.
- Structure-Function Relationship: Students are given the opportunity to naturally consider how the structure of each part of a creature—like the rhinoceros beetle’s small head and sturdy thorax, or the locust’s strong hind legs—connects to its function (e.g., the beetle’s powerful movements, the locust’s jumping ability).
- Diversity and Commonality: By comparing and observing a variety of insects, students can understand the common body plan of insects—that they are all divided into a head, thorax, and abdomen—even though they each have different characteristics. This can also lead them to realize that the spiracles seen in the electron microscope photos of ants are a common respiratory organ shared by other insects.
- Interest in Scientific Research: The electron microscope photos and 3D models serve as concrete examples of how scientists explore the microscopic world of living things. This can spark students’ interest in scientific research itself and inspire a desire to “explore more deeply.”
The “Incredible Encyclopedia” is a truly “incredible” digital tool that breathes new life into middle school science classes. It stimulates students’ curiosity with a “I want to know more!” attitude and provides a deeper understanding and the joy of scientific inquiry that can’t be gained from just lectures.
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３月のイチオシ実験！
- 押し花を作ろう！：梅や桜の花の押し花を作ってみましょう。特別なケースに入れると、長く保存できて、しおりにもなります。
テレビ番組・科学監修等のお知らせ
- 「月曜から夜更かし」（日本テレビ）にて科学監修・出演しました。
- 2月27日放送予定「チコちゃんに叱られる」（NHK）の科学監修しました。
書籍のお知らせ
- 1/27 『見えない力と遊ぼう！電気・磁石・熱の実験』（工学社）を執筆しました。
- サクセス15 ２月号にて「浸透圧」に関する科学記事を執筆しました。
- 『大人のための高校物理復習帳』（講談社）…一般向けに日常の物理について公式を元に紐解きました。特設サイトでは実験を多数紹介しています。※増刷がかかり６刷となりました（2026/02/01）
- 『きめる!共通テスト 物理基礎 改訂版』（学研）… 高校物理の参考書です。イラストを多くしてイメージが持てるように描きました。授業についていけない、物理が苦手、そんな生徒におすすめです。特設サイトはこちら。
講師・ショー・その他お知らせ
- 3/20（金） 日本理科教育学会オンライン全国大会2026「慣性の法則の概念形成を目指した探究的な学びの実践」について発表します。B会場 第３セッション： 学習指導・教材（中学校）③ 11:20-12:20
- 7/18（土） 教員向け実験講習会「ナリカカサイエンスアカデミー」の講師をします。お会いしましょう。
- 10/10（土） 秘密兵器「帯電ガン」が炸裂！ビリビリ！ドキドキ！静電気サイエンスショー＠千葉市科学フェスタ（午後予定）
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- 楽しい実験…お子さんと一緒に夢中になれるイチオシの科学実験を多数紹介しています。また、高校物理の理解を深めるための動画教材も用意しました。
- 理科の教材… 理科教師をバックアップ！授業の質を高め、準備を効率化するための選りすぐりの教材を紹介しています。
- Youtube…科学実験等の動画を配信しています。
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