Inspire first grade artists to learn about abstract and realistic art while reading Eric Carle's Where are you Going? To See My Friend. Young artists design and make a mural collage by tearing shapes of paper while comparing English and...

Notan is a Japanese word that expresses the interaction between light and dark. Learners explore Notan while creating dimensional art pieces that examine positive and negative spaces. They'll discuss the art of Notan, create...

A Japanese Shinto deity from the early 900s inspires youngsters to think symbolically. They analyze the carved sculpture, the techniques used to create it, and its cultural or symbolic meaning. Then, they design and carve a symbolic...

Chinese and Japanese calligraphy is beautiful and significant in both culture and tradition. Engage your class in this expressive fine art form through a lesson on using, holding, and creating brush strokes common to Japanese writing...

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. 

Paper folding is a great art form that can be incorporated into cultural, mathematic, and art lessons. This resource includes the full instructions needed to fold a paper crane, as well as a Haiku poetry idea. Tip: This activity would be...

Students 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.

Young scholars imagine they are a 'marchand-mercier' (or salesman) and write a persuasive letter to sell French items. In this art analysis lesson plan, students identify the role of a 'marchand-mercier' and write a three-paragraph...

First graders study Japanese art and apply the technique of Tansai Sumi (lightly colored) to create individual works of art. Painting, design, lines, and drawing techniques are covered in this 1st grade lesson.

Use pictures and manipulatives to develop vocabulary with your beginning language learners. This plan can be used with foreign language learners (although you'll have to provide the vocabulary), English language learners, or a young...

Fifth graders explore U.S. history by reading an award winning book about World War II. In this Japanese internment camp lesson, 5th graders read the book Under the Blood-Red Sun and discuss the entrapment of Japanese-Americans on our...

Fifth graders explore American history by viewing videos on the Internet. In this Japanese internment lesson plan, 5th graders discuss the politics that took place between America and Japan during WWII and why it was necessary to...

Students explore reading comprehension strategies. In this character development and reading comprehension lesson plan, students brainstorm common traits of "heroes." Students read Heroes, then identify the personal conflicts the story...

Third graders explore world cultures by reading a children's story in class. For this Japanese heritage lesson, 3rd graders read the book Grandfather's Journey and identify the characters, setting and plot that takes place. Students...

Students create, notate, and perform the melody of and a rhythmic accompaniment to the traditional Japanese folk song, Sakura. This lesson plan requires a networked computer lab with headphones.

Kids of all ages discover their family histories through pictures. First, flip through the PowerPoint provided (or consider making one of your own). It should show pictures of your family and have clear, easy to understand sentences that...

Pupils play a card game where they match the meaning of the word to the word or its prefix/suffix. They listen for the teacher to call out the definition and, with two players facing off, the first one to slap the correct card wins! Kids...

How can we estimate time? Have your young mathematicians make a clock. Then they compare and contrast types of clocks. They practice writing times in two different ways and make a book about telling time.

Foreign language learners work in pairs to translate the daily routine of celebrities or everyday people, presented in daily planner format, into English. They then illustrate and record their own daily routines in storyboard (film...

Students explain that Japanese and Americans have different values concerning behavior, education, and work. They fill out questionnaires which ask about their family practices and compare their answers with Japanese families.

Students discuss ways people attempt to know their fortune. They study how in Japan people go to a shrine and get their fortunes. They write fortunes for their peers and share in an activity modeled on that of a Japanese Temple fortune.

Students utilize a new language to tell someone they care for them. In this complimenting lesson, students practice saying nice things to friends and strangers in their target language. Students react to the lesson afterwards and...

Learners use their imaginations to write about an imaginary trip. In this creative writing instructional activity, students write about an imaginary trip. Learners brainstorm writing ideas as a class and use past...

Students compare and contrast the effects of culture upon the community and visa versa. In groups, students create Chumash style artwork and proportioned sculptures. They examine the perspective of the Renaissance Period and design...