Japan, Japanese Lesson Plans

Japan Teaching Theme

Japan Worksheets

1. Always Remember, or Eventually Forget?- In this lesson, students examine one writer’s opinion about how different generations of Japanese citizens have been influenced by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
2. America and the Sino-Japanese Conflict- Explain why Japan went to war against China during the 1930s
3. Asia Rising- Following devastating wars, Japan and Korea slowly begin to reconstruct their economies. By keeping tight control of economic growth and tailoring that growth to cultural values, both governments orchestrate phenomenal rises to economic success.
4. Asian-Pacific Heritage Month- You and your students can celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage month by taking a trip to Asia with a host of original EDSITEment lesson plans and reviewed Internet resources.
5. Attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki- Students hear a story about the atomic bombing of Japan and write an editorial about the event from the perspective of either a Japanese or an American.
6. Atomic bombings of Japan- Understand Japanese Perspective of bombing.

1. Balance of (Nuclear) Power- In this lesson, students research the 11 nations that are either known or suspected to have nuclear weapons. They then draft treaties to effect nuclear nonproliferation or disarmament among these 11 countries.
2. Big Book of Before the Picnic by Yoriko Tsutsui - Students will relate to this book about a family getting ready to go on a picnic. Although the child in the story is younger than the students, they will be able to see similarities to their own lives. Students will see signs of traditional Japanese culture blended in the home of a modern, Westernized family.
3. Counting With Pearls - In this center activity students will practice counting, number recognition, and one-to-one correspondence.
4. Do You Haiku? We Do!- Have you ever used Math to write poetry? Try your hand at it by writing Haiku, a form of Japanese poetry.
5. Doll Display/Festival - Students will really feel a part of the Japanese Doll Festival as they bring their own dolls from home to be displayed in the classroom.
6. East Asia- For students to have an understanding of how the location of Japan has shaped it's culture and religions. For students to know the Japan's Feudal Society.
7. Ending the War against Japan: Science, Morality, and the Atomic Bomb- This 5-day unit of study seeks to go beyond the well-worn question, "Should the atomic bomb have been dropped on Japan?"
8. Estimation Game With Pearls - Students can gain practice in developing their estimation skills. This activity involves filling a jar with costume pearls and having the students guess or estimate how many there are.
9. Exploring World Cultures Through Folk Tales- This lesson helps foster an atmosphere of inquiry and appreciation for other cultures as students learn about and read various folk tales from around the world.
10. Field Trips, Guest Speakers, Classroom Exhibits - Plan a trip to eat lunch at a Japanese restaurant. Children will sit on the floor and be able to experiment with chopsticks. Many restaurants are happy to give special group discounts and possible food demonstrations.
11. Fish Stories- In this lesson, students conduct background research about a Pacific Rim country to develop a premise for a documentary film about the fate of traditional fishing industries in the area.
12. Haiku Poetry - Poetry is an excellent means of teaching language to children. The Japanese created haiku and from this many things can be taught to children even in kindergarten. This activity will look at some ways to expose children to the art of haiku.
13. Having Fun With Chopsticks - The Japanese are as adept at using chopsticks as we are with forks. This activity will allow the students to have fun with chopsticks while developing more fine motor control in their hands. The literature used here will also look at two adults from different cultures dealing with the problem of not knowing how to eat, so to speak...
14. Hiroshima - Background Information- The Bombing of Hiroshima to provide background knowledge before reading Sadako.
15. Identification of Different Rice Varieties - This two-part activity teaches students about planting and growing rice. It requires them to observe and identify five varieties of rice.
16. Jan-Ken-Pon, Japanese Game - This traditional Japanese game has been gaining popularity in the United States among young children. It has been used as a way to break ties and to make decisions for allotting privileges. This game also helps to develop fine motor control and understanding of probability concepts.
17. Japanese Drama - After reading the exciting Japanese tale The Warrior and the Wise Man, the class will act it out. The class can learn about the types of Japanese drama and then act out this tale through a combination of these different types. This tale also has some important messages for all.
18. Japanese Recipes - Involve the students as much as possible when cooking in class. Many foods can be cut using butter knives, and students can learn a lot through measuring, combining, following directions, etc.
19. Japanese Roles, Responsibilities and the Extended Family - Many Japanese values and beliefs are illustrated in folktales. This activity is based on a Japanese folktale concerning a very lazy boy and a frustrated mother. The concept of the extended family is depicted as well.
20. Japanese Tea Ceremony (Chanoyu) -Give students a true taste of Japanese culture in this traditional tea ceremony. Everyone will leave feeling rested and refreshed having experienced this tradition dating back to the 7th century.
21. Japan's Textbook Case- In this lesson, students explore how accurately textbooks account for historical events, then collaborate to write unbiased textbook entries for current events.
22. Japanese American Internment Curriculum- Presents links to 25 lesson plans from a variety of sources about Japanese American internment during World War II.
23. Japanese Extended Family- Using a flannel board and pre-cut paper dolls, students will engage in an activity that will assist them in understanding the concept of the Japanese extended family. This lesson will compliment a unit on Japan.
24. Japanese Kite Stories- "During a unit on Japan, students will participate in an activity to assist them in understanding a segment of Japanese culture."
25. Japanese Lacquerware Art Lesson- The student will be able to decorate a plate in the Japanese manner of design.
26. Legend and Symbol Map of Japan- This activity introduces students to a legend and its symbols using a map of Japan. The map will show crops, industry, and resources of Japan. The students can then become familiar with the legend symbols and see where in Japan food and other items are produced.
27. Making a Clay Volcano- Students will be impressed and amazed at their own pretend volcanoes. Students can see an actual chemical reaction take place when baking soda and vinegar bubble up out of their volcanoes.
28. Making a Japanese Fan - Students will use paper plates to make beautiful Japanese fans. Fans can be painted or made more elaborate with sequins, feathers, glitter and ribbon.
29. Making a Paper Carp Kite - Students will enjoy making this carp kite in celebration of Japan's Children's Day. This also has been known as the Boys' Festival.
30. Monarch Haiku- Students will have a basic understanding of a haiku poem.
31. Not Just Sushi: An Adventure in Japanese Culture for Sixth-Grade Learners- The goal of this Web site is to have students explore the various kinds of foods eaten in Japan via a WebQuest.
32. Number Book With Japanese Characters - Students can practice writing Japanese and making the English equivalent of the numbers one to ten. This is a great opportunity to bring in different skills, both in language and mathematics.
33. Origami- Students will demonstrate the ability to use paper folding by understanding the Japanese culture, and some of the reasons why it is believed that Origami was started.
34. Papier-mache Daruma - Small groups of students can work together to papier-mache and decorate a daruma (a variation of the American punching bag). In Japan, the daruma is thought to bring good health.
35. Paper Cranes and the Art of Origami - After hearing the two stories listed in this activity the students will come to admire the crane. This bird and its paper version are symbols of long life and good luck to the Japanese. The students will also get a taste of origami through the fan and flower making exercise listed.
36. Pearl Classification - This activity works well as an independent center. Students will sort pearls by size, shape, and color.
37. Play Japanese Restaurant - This is a good center activity to use following the chopsticks activity and, if possible, before visiting a Japanese restaurant.
38. Research and Multimedia on Medieval Japan- In groups of 3-4, students will use the Internet to research aspects of Medieval Japan.
39. Rice (Gohan) Observations- The student estimates, observes, and records observations of rice (known as 'gohan' in Japan) in two experiments and communicates the results.
40. Role Playing With a Japanese Dollhouse- Students will love to play with this Japanese dollhouse. It will be especially meaningful if students are involved in the process of making and setting up the dollhouse.
41. Slotted Sculpture from Tagboard - after you read Umbrella by Taro Yashima, the students will make a tagboard version of Momo using the technique of slotted sculpturing.
42. The Story of Sadako and the Art of Origami- This is a lesson that can be done prior to folding paper fraction strips. Students will understand how the atom bomb affected Sadako.
43. The Wizard of Oz Visits Japan- Explain that real interest rates equal the nominal rate of interest minus the expected rate of inflation.
44. Traveling to Japan: Which Way Do We Go?- Students determine Which Way Do We Go? and explore various methods for measuring the distance between Florida and Japan.
45. Wall Story of the Funny Little Woman - Students will work in small cooperative groups to construct a wall story about this humorous story of The Funny Little Woman by Arlene Mosel.
46. War in the Pacific- After today's lesson, students - through class discussion - will be able to identify how the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor impacted the United States.
47. What is an Island?- This two-part activity teaches students that Japan consists of islands and shows them how islands are formed. The teacher will first demonstrate how volcanic eruptions created Japan. As a follow-up activity, the students can work at a center creating their own islands.
48. Where Is Japan? How Far Is That?- Students use literature and hands-on activities with maps and globes to understand distance and tools used to measure distance.
49. Where Is Japan? How Are We Alike and Different?- Students use literature, maps, and globes to understand how physical environments in various parts of the world are similar to and different from one's own, and that certain areas have common characteristics and can be called regions.
50. Where Is Japan? What Direction Is It?- Students use literature and manipulatives to understand that maps and globes represent real places, the cardinal directions, and the hemispheres. Selected countries will be located on a map and globe. This lesson plan is for three days of instruction.
51. You Too Can Haiku- This lesson will introduce students to the Japanese poetic form of haiku.