Curated OER
Japanese American Baseball in the Camps
Students study Japanese American internment camps. For this American history lesson, students compare and contrast the camp internees' experiences with with team sports-related challenges students have encountered. Students discuss team...
Curated OER
Let's Discuss Current Events
Investigate articles from the daily news and share opinions with classmates. Using current events, learners view a news program without sound and predict what news is being discussed by analyzing the visuals. Then they read news articles...
Curated OER
Celebrating Asian and Pacific-Island Heritage
Students complete a variety of activities surrounding Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May.
Curated OER
The Poetry of Chinoiserie
Students study Asian works of art and Japanese haiku. They then take this knowledge and create an original haiku in response to other works of art.
Curated OER
My Childhood Portrait
Students practice descriptive writing by viewing auto-portraits of young children. In this art analysis lesson, students examine an auto-portrait of their teacher as a young child and ask him/her questions about their youth....
Curated OER
Origami
Students investigate Japanese culture by creating origami. In this Asian heritage lesson, students utilize the Internet to view origami tutorials which they use to create birds and other animals. Students discuss what...
Curated OER
Grandfather's Journey
Third graders explore world cultures by reading a children's story in class. In this Japanese heritage lesson, 3rd graders read the book Grandfather's Journey and identify the characters, setting and plot that takes place. Students...
Curated OER
Haiku - Poetry of the Samurai Warrior
Young scholars research the Samurai and their Haiku Writings. Students use internet research to gather information about the ancient Japanese Samurai. The young scholars then create individual Haiku writings, and a cultural day is...
Curated OER
Group Rehearsal
Pupils study their national and family heritage while working in groups. In this personal history project, students examine the family shield or crest of the teacher while preparing to create and share their own with the class....
Curated OER
Fictional Characters
Students explore fictional characters. For this fictional characters lesson, students hear information about a character then ask and answer questions. Students also answer true/false questions about the character and make a mini book...
Curated OER
Taoism
Students identify and interpret Taoism. Students gain knowledge of various eastern philosophies. Students transfer knowledge gained using the higher order thinking skills for analysis. Students identify the key figure in Taoism....
Curated OER
"The Universal Principal of Change"
Twelfth graders research the Kamakura Period, along with Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist principles. Also, they study Yoshida Kenko.
Other
Japanese Arts Council: Noh and Kyogen (Traditional Japanese Performing Arts)
An introduction to Noh and Kyogen plays. Details of these traditional Japanese performing arts are provided, accompanied by photos of the masks, costumes, props, and fans used. Includes video clips of some performances.
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kids Web Japan: Culture Corner
Sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this comprehensive site explains traditional Japanese arts, crafts, and culture in a way that's very friendly to younger students. Traditional arts covered include drumming, the tea...
Other
Puppet Theater of Japan: Bunraku
An introduction to bunraku--the traditional puppet theater of Japan. Find clear explanations of the history of the art form and details of the music, props, and puppets used. Illustrated with beautiful pictures. Includes several video...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Asian Pacific American Heritage
Nice Scholastic site that looks at what it means to be an Asian Pacific American. Includes stories from Angel Island, Japanese Americans during WWII, and background on and interviews with notable Asian Americans.
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Web Japan: Nipponia
Nipponia is an online magazine, published quarterly, that introduces modern Japan to people all over the world. Browse articles on life and culture, travel and history, science and technology, art and entertainment, nature and geography,...