Although the United States suspected an early attack on Hawaii from the Japanese military, Franklin D. Roosevelt feared what increasing Japan's power would do. Watch the tension rise between Japan, China, and the United States.

"...December 7, 1941-a day that will live in infamy." After Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States jumped full force into World War II, declaring war on Japan.

After 43 seconds of falling, a chemical reaction began in the bomb falling over Hiroshima. Within another few seconds, tens of thousands of Japanese civilians were incinerated, ripped apart, and left to die in their decimated city....

Search a variety of sources to create a multimedia or book project about Japan. Learners use the independent investigation method to plan and conduct research about Japan. They use the information they discover to create a computer book...

High schoolers 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 Ukiyo-e? It is a type of art originated in Japan. Watch this video to learn more about this beautiful art form.

Shinto and Buddhism are two Japanese religions introduced in this short video. Author, Rushton Hurley, describes the differences between the two religions with fantastic visuals.

This kid knows his stuff. A middle schooler explains the five-step process that occurs as a tsunami forms. He relates his tsunami research to the events that occurred in Japan in 2011. The question he poses can be discussed by you class....

Explore Japanese society and national identity. Class members share ideas about the Japanese economy and then investigate a series of resources, including an article, a film, a lecture, and a poem, to learn about Japan's Bubble Economy...

Read and act out folktales, fairy tales, or myths from various Asian American cultures with your class. Each group reads a story aloud and then works together to create a short play or skit about the story. Suggestions for stories are...

A fabulous Samurai suit of armor is the inspiratoin for a creative reseach project and presentation. Kids research the symbols found on the Samurai armor, describing the symbols meaning or significance in Japanses culture. 

Students listen to Japanese folk songs to get inspired to create a writing piece about Japan.  In this writing lesson, students use primary and secondary sources to add information about Japan. 

Young scholars explore the relationship between names and certain cultures and locations. In this identity lesson, students create family migration or immigration maps. Young scholars read excerpts from When My Name was Keoko and Lost...

Learners use the internet to research Children's Day in Japan. In groups, they examine the symbols on the streamers placed outside of families homes. To end the lesson, they design their own carp streamers and hang it from the classroom...

Students listen as the teacher reads A Country Far Away. They predict what they will do and what they think their partner student will be doing. Students create a KWL chart for Japan. They collect information about their activities on an...

A series of four activities explores Japanese culture and traditions. Learners participate in a re-enacted tea ceremony; examine sketches of Asian figures by Canadian artist Robert Harris, discuss symbols, investigate Japanese mon, and...

What a great resource to share! Based on the book Lost Names by Richard Kim, this valuable lesson focuses on the Japanese occupation of Korea during WWII. Additionally, it employs first-person journaling as a mode of understanding themes...

Students examine famous woodblock prints of artists such as Hiroshige and Hokusai as primary documents to help them gain insight on Japanese history. They relate the woodblock images to the social hierarchy of the period.

Create this beautiful koi pond scene using watercolor paper, crayons, and paints. This would be a fantastic project to link to a scientific study of pond life or a historical study of Japanese culture.

Bring multi-cultural experiences and literature into your language arts class with this lesson. Here, young readers explore the points of view of first and second-generation Asian immigrants with a list of various fiction and nonfiction...

What a wonderful way to explore this topic! Learners take an imaginary trip to Asia, take a visual tour, and formulate questions for a research project. As a final project, they create a travel brochure.

A comprehensive look at Japan and its characteristics will engage and inform the viewer about one of the most prominent powers in the world today. The demographics, topography, and climate of Japan are covered in these slides with maps,...

Youkoso! Welcome to Japan. Visit Japan in our modern day and see the restaurants, shopping centers and bustling streets. The last 90 seconds are credits.