Students discuss Japanese culture and the functional and artistic uses of fans and create paper fans using watercolors, popsicle sticks, and tape in this Art lesson for the elementary classroom. Can be used as an introduction to...

Students read a variety of novels and watch clips of films through which they begin to feel empathy for cultures and countries occupied by foreign countries. They have the option of studying the Sino-Japanese Wars or the Russo-Japanese...

Students explore using recycled materials. In this ecology/art lesson, students use recycled materials to create a Halloween mask. Students view folk art made of natural and available resources, and discuss possible cultural uses for...

High schoolers are introduced to the various stereotypes faced by women in Japan. In groups, they discover the types of discrimination women received because of the stereotypes and how they have confronted them over time. They develop...

Even though this is technically an art lesson, haiku poetry is actually the main focus! Learners view photographs of Japanese tea caddies. They list five descriptive words for the caddies, then write haiku poems using the caddies as...

Students study the Japanese educational system and compare and contrast it to the American system. They discuss a typical school day in America and what they believe a typical day is for a Japanese student. Next they write an editorial...

Students discover Japanese culture and the importance of Sakura to Japan. In this international festival lesson, students demonstrate an appreciation for the Sakura trees beauty by creating Sakura trees from white and pink dyed cotton...

Students identify that Japanese folktales reveal information about Japanese history, life, and customs. Students identify and interpret the work kamishibai, paper play and explain that in Japanese folktales are told through a series of...

Students use a graphic organizer to explore the drawing style known as Anime. They conduct research from a variety of internet resources to come up with a better comprehension of the style and how it is drawn.

Students become familiar with family crests in general and Japanese family crests in particular. Students become familiar with the history of Japanese family crests.

Students observe live Webcam views of Japan. They study its economy, government, and culture through paintings and facts. They label a map of Japan with its cities and rivers.

Students explore via the internet all types of clothing around the world. Students discuss that the way people dress is an important means of expressing identity. Students collaborate via Internet research the social purposes of clothing.

Students explore the the legends and myths of the Orient, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas in this six lessons unit. Different cultures and belief systems of the inhabitants of these areas are examined through storytelling techniques.

Students study the architecture and decoration of Hindu temples, compare them with, and apply them to, a place of contemplation they will design for themselves.

Students create Sumi-e paintings and explore the various materials, techniques, and processes associated with those paintings in an effort to better understand Japanese art and culture.

Students continue their examination of modern Japan and its culture. Using a map, they locate various cities and landforms in the country and watch a video on related topics in which the make a timeline of key events. In groups, they...

Encourage the poetic genius in your young creative writers with a poetry workshop. Fix form poems (cinquains acrostic poems, octopoems, hello/goodbye poems) provide a framework and encourage vocabulary development as well as an awareness...

Do a grapevine to the left, lift your hands in the air, and sing out, "Hey!" These are the steps second graders will do when they sing and dance the Israeli folk song, "Achshav.”  They will explore the concept of multicultural music...

Young scholars examine and discuss the many decorative elements in the Japanese garden. They learn about Japanese gardens and lanterns and create their own model out of clay.

There is no better way to understand a different culture than to participate in its traditional or ceremonies. This instructional activity kicks off with a discussion about a tea container made during the Edo period in Japan. After...

Students read texts, view film and video and conduct research in an analysis and comparison of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and the Kabuki piece "Chushingura". They focus their analysis on the theme of revenge.

What is a haibun? With this interesting lesson, writers will experience the Japanese writing form haibun, identify elements important to Japanese writing styles, analyze a haibun, and compose their own. Different from the typical journal...

What constitutes a healthy diet? In what way is a healthy diet defined and influenced by culture? Groups investigate the community and national resources available in a country, and then design a healthy diet for its citizens.