Japan, Japanese Lesson Plans

Japan Teaching Theme

Japan Worksheets

1. Activities Based on Japanese Folktales- "Students learn about Japanese culture through folk literature, create a kamishibai (paper play), and put on a puppet show. Extension ideas are provided."
2. Article 9 of the Japanese Consitution- "Students will evaluate the historical background and effects of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution."
3. Artifacts- "Students examine artifacts that they think are typicaly American. Then, students learn about Japanese life and Japanese people's values through the exploration of artifacts from Japan. This is a three day unit."
4. Artifacts: What Am I?- "Students will practice simple Japanese expressions and explore the information available from Japanese artifacts."
5. Create Your Own Family Crest- Students design and make a model of their own family crests using Japanese crest designs for inspiration.
6. Daruma Toys and Games- The students will make their own daruma.

1. Daruma-San- "Students are introduced to the Japanese Daruma tradition and the ideas of wishing and setting goals."
2. Education in Japan- "Students will learn about the Japanese education system and compare it to their own. Extension ideas are provided."
3. 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?"
4. Geography of Japan- "Students will be able to recognize the major geographical features of Japan, to explain the influence of variables on the climate of Japan, and to compare Japan with other countries. Extension ideas are provided."
5. Haiku- "After exploring nature and reading haiku by Issa, students write their own haiku. Extension ideas also provided. Adaptable to other grade levels."
6. Hiroshima: Introduction to a Unit- "Students explore their views of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki through clustering and writing before reading a book and viewing a film about the subject. Extension ideas also provided."
7. Japanese American Internment Curriculum- Presents links to 25 lesson plans from a variety of sources about Japanese American internment during World War II.
8. Japanese Designs- "Students learn the meaning of some traditional Japanese designs then create their own with stamps. Extension ideas are provided."
9. Japanese Fans- Students recognize fans as part of Japan's cultural tradition, create their own, and use fans as an aid to expressive action.
10. Japanese Kite Stories- "During a unit on Japan, students will participate in an activity to assist them in understanding a segment of Japanese culture."
11. Japanese Lacquerware Art Lesson- The student will be able to decorate a plate in the Japanese manner of design.
12. Kokeshi Dolls
13. National Anthem of Japan- "Students learn the Japanese national anthem and compare it to their own."
14. 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.
15. Songs in Japanese- "Students will become familiar with the sound of Japanese by singing familiar songs in Japanese."
16. Undokai - Japanese Games- "Students familiarize themselves with Japanese culture while playing Japanese games. Extension ideas provided."
17. What Is It?- "Students will practice writing definitions while becoming familiar with some Japanese objects. Adaptable to other grades. Extension ideas provided."
18. What Is a Japanese Family Crest?- "Students become familiar with Japanese family crests and their history. Short student reading on the history of Japanese family crests provided."
19. Who? What? Why? Does Your Family Do That?- "Students will learn to recognize their own values while comparing Japanese and American values concerning education, behavior, and work. Extension ideas are provided"
20. Writing Japanese Stories- Students read and discuss the traits of several Japanese folktales. Using ideas from cards picked out of a coffee can, students write a story in the style of a Japanese folktale. Adaptable to other grade levels.
21. Your Story, My Story- "Using the Japanese folktale, "The Magic Teakettle," students practice telling and writing stories from different viewpoints. Adaptable to other grades."
22. Zen Buddhism: Introduction to a Unit- "Students explore their views of Zen Buddhism through clustering and writing before reading a book or viewing a film about the subject."