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Japanese Culture
Seventh graders make connections with the history of Japanese art with the modern use of ancient warriors in the popular Yu-Gi-Oh trading cards. They journal and reflect upon the research and comparison of the ancient to modern art.
UTSA Institute of Texas Cultures
Teaching Through Kamishibai and The Art of Chinese Calligraphy
Young learners discover kamishibai, a popular Japanese storytelling art, and explore how these Japanese folktales illustrate the country's cultural themes and values through discussion and storyboarding.
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Women in Two Countries: Japan and America
Students explore the role of women in Japan and the United States during World War Two. They focus on women and the family and women and the workplace and the changes within each. Students create an informational brochure of women...
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How My Parents Learned to Eat
Students identify popular foods in Japan. In this social studies lesson, students read the story How My Parents Learned to Eat and discuss ways that the Japanese eat their food. Students research popular foods in Japan.
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Japan: New Year's Day
Young scholars discover how New Year's Day is celebrated in Japan. In groups, they create their own versions of Japanese kites using materials available to them in the classroom. They discover the signifigance of the kites to their...
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Japanese Abstract Art And The Impressionist Movement
High schoolers study several examples of Japanese abstract art and how this style impacted the Impressionist movement of the 19th century. This lesson includes ideas for student-created sketchbooks.
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The Cultural Geography of East Asia
Students use information from the Asia Society's AskAsia Web site to explore the cultures of China, Japan, and Korea. They answer four questions and then use what they have learned to write a letter of introduction to a Japanese exchange...
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Being in the Noh: An Introduction to Japanese Noh Plays
Students analyze the conventions used in Noh plays and write an introduction to a Noh play of their own. In this Noh play lesson, students identify the conventions of the Noh form and analyze the realizations the main character achieves....
Denver Art Museum
Alien Beauty
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," is a popular phrase in our society. The lesson here puts the phrase to the test as pupils explore what truly is beautiful through a study of some Japanese folk art. A careful examination of the...
Japan Society
Akutagawa Ryunosuke and the Taisho Modernists
Japan's Taisho Period was a time when authors like Akutagawa and other Japanese modernists began to experiment with point of view and literary form, making the literature produced during this time period a natural choice for teaching...
Curated OER
Japanese Poetry: Tanka? You're Welcome!
Students analyze Japanese tanka poetry. In this Japanese poetry lesson, students identify analyze the structure of tanka poetry. Students complete the activities at the given links for the lesson and compose two tanka poems.
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The Role of Japanese Women through Art
Learners examine the role of women in Japan through Art and create collages using learned knowledge that depict the role of women in America today in this exciting Art or Social Studies lesson.
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Ukiyo-e
Pupils investigate and examine ukiyo-e, or Japanese woodblock prints, from the Edo period (1615-1868) in Japan and use this gained knowledge to compare Japanese culture to American societal trends.
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Irises
Students create realistic and impressionistic drawings of irises in an attempt to better understand the importance of the iris in Japanese culture and art. Lesson extensions are provided for this one day instructional activity.
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Out and About: Masks
Students investigate the art of mask-making. In this cultural masks lesson, students may visit the Hancock or Horniman Museums in Britain online or in-person to discover details about cultural masks and give a try at making their own.
Japan Society
Our Family and Other Families: Using Totoro to Teach Family Structure
What do families around the world have in common? Explore this theme through the popular animated film My Neighbor Totoro by Hayao Miyazaki. Over the course of two days, pupils view the film, pausing to discuss their own families and the...
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Tezuka OSAMU
Students engage in a lesson to research the life of Tezuka Osamu. They examine his life and writings looking for the answer to essential questions to guide the work. They complete several activities as part of a unit study.
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Why is rice a remarkable grain?
Second graders research rice and its health benefits. In this rice instructional activity, 2nd graders discuss the popularity of rice in the world and its history. They make "rice squiggles" by sprinkling colored rice on a squiggle of...
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The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks
Students are introduced to the time of the samurai warriors using the guided reading of "The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks". The teacher reads the story to the students and they make connections from the text about the history of the samurai.
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Being in the Noh: An Introduction to Japanese Noh Plays
High schoolers read a Japanese Noh play and discuss its structure and traditional characters. They choose a short myth and write a Noh play based on it.
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Ancient China
Students research different dynasties that existed in China around different themes. They chart each dynasty for written assessment. Each chart has details that chronicles the gathered information.
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Transportation in East Asia
Students engage in research about the subject of transportation in Eastern Asia. The size of countries and population pose challenges that are studied and reflected upon in student writings from the information found.
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Manga and Me
Upper elementary and middle school learners study Manga cartooning and create a Japanese character based on their own features and personalities. This style of cartooning is easily-accessible for most students. With a little practice,...
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Shadow Puppetry in South India
Students read a variety of literature from India, including folktales and fables. They then select a scene or story to script, work together to design and craft shadow puppets of characters and scenery, narrate a story, manipulate the...