Lesson Plan
US Navy

U.s. Navy Museum: Commodore Perry and the Opening of Japan

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson plan discusses the American initiative to open Japan to western trade. It also features a biography of Commodore Perry, an exploration of the Japanese class system, and various learning activities.
Handout
Countries and Their Cultures

Countries and Their Cultures: Japan

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides an overview of the culture of Japan. Gives basic information on topics such as geography, ethnic makeup, languages, symbolism, economy, food, customs, social stratification, family life, education, religion, politics, etc....
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Ukiyo E Prints and Rise of Merchant Class in Edo Period Japan

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Life in the Floating World: Ukiyo-e Prints and the Rise of the Merchant Class in Edo Period Japan." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the...
Website
Other

Wake Forest University: Japan: A Meteoric Rise

For Students 9th - 10th
In this excerpt from a larger work on industrialization in the non-Western world, find a detailed history of late nineteenth-century Japan, the period during which Japan was forced out of isolation.
Handout
Association of Religion Data Archives

Association of Religion Data Archives: National Profiles: Japan

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about religion in Japan, in this Association of Religion Data Archives country profile; includes general facts, history, and religious data.
Website
Other

Political Parties in Japan: 1874 1998

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is a list of a number of political parties in Japan. It gives a history of each party and what they want to accomplish for their country. It tells how The Liberal Democratic Party was in power from 1955 until 1993 and what...
Website
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Tokyo: The Anime Capital of Japan

For Students 3rd - 8th
A short essay on the history of cartooning and animation in Japan. Discusses the importance of anime (also known as Japanimation) as an industry to Japan and its global reach. Nice samples of anime characters and styles frame the site.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Gyotaku: The Ancient Japanese Art of Printing Fish

For Students 9th - 10th
How did fishermen record their trophy catches before the invention of photography? In 19th century Japan, fishing boats were equipped with rice paper, sumi-e ink, and brushes in order to create gyotaku: elaborate rubbings of freshly...
Website
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: Korea, Case History of a Pawn

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the U.S. Army Center of Military History provides information on Japan's control of Korea, the subsequent change of control to the United States following World War II, and the USSR's involvement.
Website
Other

Japan Zone: Early History of Japan

For Students 9th - 10th
Information about the early history of Japan written for the English-reading public by an Irish-born teacher of English now living in Japan. In several short paragraphs, you can read about the principal leaders and achievements of...
Handout
Latimer Clarke Corporation

Atlapedia Online: Japan

For Students Pre-K - 1st
If you're doing a research paper on Japan, this is a great place to begin. Has information about the history, people, geography, climate, economy, and more. Click on the map image to get more details and an enlarged view.
Handout
Other

University of Connecticut: Asian History: Emperor Jimmu's Conquest of the East

For Students 9th - 10th
Website on Asian history features information on the Emperor Jimmu and the conquest of the East.
Handout
US National Archives

Nara: The Treaty of Kanagawa

For Students 9th - 10th
Information about,and a scanned copy of, the Treaty of Kanagawa between the United States and Japan.
Lesson Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Bridging World History: Early Economies

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This unit tracks the development of economics through time, highlighting what early societies did to provide for themselves, how they established trade systems and political systems of taxed goods.
Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: Japan and the Black Ships: The Meiji Restoration

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains how Japan isolated itself from contact with Europe and America for two hundred years. This ended when it agreed to sign a treaty of friendship with America that was brought to Tokyo in 1853 by Commodore Matthew Perry and his...
Primary
The History Place

The History Place: For a Declaration of War Against Japan

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the History Place provides the original speech delivered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Congress regarding Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor resulting in a declaration of war.
eBook
Other

South Western Learning: Econ News: Interest Rates in Japan a Zero

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the history of Japan's economy in this brief article.
Handout
ibiblio

Ibiblio: Web Museum: Japanese Art and Architecture

For Students 9th - 10th
This Ibiblio.org site is a thorough description of Japanese art and architecture. There are no pictures, but the writing makes up for this in its extensive history and descriptions.
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: World War Ii 1941 1945: The Pacific Theater and the Atomic Bomb

For Students 9th - 10th
Looks at America's involvement in the Pacific Campaign, and the decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan and the impact it had.
Interactive
Other

Pantheon: The Family Tree of Gods

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive family tree of ancient Japanese gods and goddesses with descriptions and images.
Lesson Plan
Other

Washoe County School District: Teaching American History Project Lesson

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan that focuses on the Fascist party and its leaders in Italy, Germany and Japan. The activity contains links to video clips and worksheets that correspond to the videos.
Website
Yale University

Yale University: Tracking the Destructive Power of the Pacific Ocean's Tsunami

For Students 9th - 10th
Expert Lori Dengler discusses the long history of tsunamis and earthquakes in the Pacific rim and Japan in particular.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pacific Link: Immigration From Japan

For Students 9th - 10th
An article about Japanese migration to the United States, from the 1880s through World War II, including reference to Japanese picture brides and Angel Island.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Northern Fur Seal

For Students 4th - 8th
Northern fur seals breed on islands near Russia, Alaska, and California, but not necessarily on the island where they were born females tagged as pups have been found breeding on other islands. The seals range widely in the North...

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