K-12 Lesson Ideas
Japan-related studies need not be relegated simply to Social Studies classes. Every day, teachers of all subjects throughout New England and beyond are bringing Japan to their classrooms through dynamic, effective lessons. Need an idea about how you can, too? See below. Have an idea to share? Send it to infocul@bz.mofa.go.jp. We'll update this page regularly to share as many ideas as possible. Also, be sure to check out other organizations that offer resources for Teaching About Japan.
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Arts
Former Fulbright Memorial Fund (FMF) participant and art teacher, Shari Field, has created an excellent website designed to be a resource for teachers. It includes lesson plans, pictures from her recent trip to Japan, student artwork and her own artwork. While all lessons are art-based, they can easily be adapted for K-12 ELA and Social Studies studies, particularly those based on folk tales and Buddhism.
Former FMF participant and music teacher, Marc Blanchette, suggests "Far East Fantasy" by Robert Washburn as an excellent piece for American JHS concert bands and "Japanese Tune" by Soichi Konagaya as one for HS concert bands. Marc is also happy to share his experiences and resources regarding comparing and contrasting the culture of American and Japanese high school bands and their rehearsal techniques with other educators. He can be reached at Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, RI at (401) 769-0310.
Former FMF participant and Chicopee High School Dramatic Arts teacher Charles P.Clarkrecentlydirected "He Who Says Yes/He Who Says No" written by Bertolt Brecht and translated by Wolfgang Sauerlander after the Japanese play "Taniko". These two brief companion pieces lend themselves to learning and enrichment both in and out of the classroom. Art classes can create Japanese masks and backdrops for the production using such websites as Noh Mask Homepage as inspiration. Music classes can study and produce Japanese-inspired music on such instruments as hammer dulcimers and mountain dulcimers.
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English Language Arts
Former FMF participant, Dr. Dianne McCaulay, combines art and ELA in her creative which focus on string art design, folk tales and haiku.
Looking for great books about Japan to share with your students? Former FMF participant and Wakefield Elementary School Librarian Missy Thomson compiled a list of Children's Books about Japan. Another former FMF participant, Cole Junior High Library Media Specialist, compiled a list of Novels about Japanese History and Culture which are great for use with middle and lower high school students.
Former FMF participant, Carol Englander, developed an 8th grade interdisciplinary curriculum called Celebrating Diversity with her colleagues which used Japanese culture, history and inventions as its basis. The novels "Tea with Milk" by Allen Say and "Judge the Wildcat and the Acorns" by Kenji Miyazwa were read in ELA classes; students discussed these and wrote essays exploring the differences and similarities between Japanese and American characters, families and important moral issues or lessons learned.
Tie Traditional Japanese Toys and Games to standards-based curriculum activities by having your students interview the oldest person they know about the games that person played as a child. Once students have reported on their interviews, list the types of materials toys were made of and the skills involved with the games. Then, distribute Traditional Japanese Toys and Games and have students compare and contrast them to their Western counterparts To practice expository writing, don't give students directions for the toys and games at first. Instead, have them create their own.
Practice letter writing by matching students with Japanese Pen Pal Programs.
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Foreign Languages
Teaching about writing systems? The Consulate of Japan in Boston has both Japanese and English-Japanese karuta cards available for New England educators to borrow; email infocul@bz.mofa.go.jp with requests. For a full description of karuta and its history, see David Bull's 1996 article.
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General
Want to teach a lot about Japan in a little time while using student-centered teaching techniques? Adapt Martianne Sullivan's Japan Jigsaw.
Ambitious? Follow former FMF participant, Kelly Carroll's lead and do a school-wide curricular unit on Japan. Students in grades K-8 will immerse themselves in Japan experiences and learning. The entire community can benefit from a Culminating Fair.
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History & Social Sciences
Former FMF participant, Carolyn Locke,created an excellent Junior Seminar Japan Unitthat touches on the geography, language, history, religion and arts of Japan, while engaging students in simulations of Japanese school life. All or part of the unit could add to any High School Social studies class.
When studying trade routes and geography give students Traditional Japanese Toys and Games to research. Have them trace the origin of each toy or game, discovering where each originated and how it got to Japan. Many came by way of Western traders.
Use a Japanese Wall Map (limited supplies available by contacting infocul@bz.mofa.go.jp)to begin discussions on differing perspectives. The Japanese world map typically has Japan and Asia at its center, as opposed to American maps which have the East Coast of the U.S. and Europe at the center. Also, tie in the origin of U.S.-Japan relations, Commodore Perry's arrival in Japan in the 1850's. See Professor John dower and Shigeru Miyagawa's Black ships and Samurai for related background information and artwork.
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Science & Technology
Stacy Smiar, a former FMF participant and Middle School Science teacher at Fayerweather Street School in Cambridge, shares two creative ideas for connecting Japan studies to Science. The first, comparing nutritional differences between Japanese and American diets, opens possibilities for experiments, data analysis, research, etc. The other, using the Japanese, or bullet train, in the study of magnets and electromagnetics, can be adapted for full-class or independent study.
Former FMF participant, Carol Englander, developed an 8th grade interdisciplinary curriculum called Celebrating Diversity with her colleagues which used Japanese culture, history and inventions as its basis. In Science, students worked in groups of 2-4, selected topics and conducted Internet searches to find information on the contributions of the Japanese in the fields of health, nutrition, transportation, plant sciences, modern and traditional textiles, toy manufacturing, the automotive industry, inventions, education, modern and traditional sports and the art of fireworks. See Japan Science Search Plans and Rubric.
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