Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Politics and Policy in Contemporary Japan

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This collection of readings introduces the politics and policy process of contemporary Japan.
Handout
Other

History of Telephone Sets: Graham Bell Invents the Telephone

For Students 9th - 10th
A short summary of how Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) came to invent the telephone.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Decision to Drop the Bomb [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
The day before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt gave the go-ahead to scientists to develop an atomic bomb. This site gives a good overview of the war in the Pacific against Japan, the increasing successes of the...
Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: A National Initiative on American History, Civics, and Service

For Students 9th - 10th
Our Documents is home to one hundred milestone documents that influenced that course of American history and American democracy. Includes full-page scans of each document, transcriptions, background information on their significance, and...
Primary
Other

About Japan: A Teacher's Resource

For Students 9th - 10th
You will find a lot of good materials about Japan of particular relevance to the classrooms. It includes themes, essays and lessons which are intended to provide both the contextual information and actionable activities required to be of...
Graphic
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Michelle Obama Visits First Lady of Japan, Akie Abe

For Students 9th - 10th
In an event at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, First Lady Michelle Obama met with Akie Abe, the First Lady of Japan, to launch the international Let Girls Learn initiative.
Article
Curated OER

History Matters: Japan Responds to Japanese Exclusion

For Students 9th - 10th
An editorial from the Japan Times and Mail denounced the the U.S. Senate's inclusion of the National Origins Act within the Immigration Act of 1924 that limited the immigration of Japanese to the United States. Read the background of the...
Activity
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: A History of Us: Twentieth Century Monsters

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS provides a detailed overview of America's involvement in World War II and the political movements lead by evil dictators that were sprouting up in countries such as Germany, Spain, Italy, and Japan.
Lesson Plan
Stanford University

Stanford History Education Group: Invasion of Nanking

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Observe the difference in perception, or how cautious a nation can be, in delivering historical events that may place a nation in a negative light. With a free registration, gain access to a lesson plan...
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Buddhism in Japan

For Students 9th - 10th
Buddhism would revolutionize many aspects of Japanese life including music, dance, a new writing system, and above all, elaborate Buddhist art. View a picture of a Buddhist sculpture and read a brief history of Buddhism in Japan.
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: Japan: Images of a People

For Students 3rd - 8th
Students learn to view Japanese paintings, they make a screen, and they learn about the culture of Japan. There are three lesson plans and all allow all needed materials to be downloaded.
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Today in History: July 29: Harris Treaty & Bowling

For Students 9th - 10th
Library of Congress site presents historical material of events that happened on July 29. Topics include the Harris Treaty and the history of bowling.
Website
Other

Soramitsu: Historical Geographical Tour of Nara From the Air

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides detailed aerial maps of the historic Nara district of Japan.
Website
Other

Japan National Tourism: Japanese Shinto Shrines

For Students 3rd - 8th
Japan's indigenous religion is known as Shinto. Here is a brief look at it with hand drawn illustrations of the shrines, costumes, and masks accompanying the text.
Handout
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: Online Exhibition: The Manhattan Project

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Documents by Manhattan Project scientists expressing their concern about nuclear weapons after the bombings in Japan.
Lesson Plan
Ohio State University

Osu History Teaching Institute: The Manhattan Project

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students will discuss the role of technology of the atomic bomb and explore the destruction of Nagasaki and Hiroshima during WWII. Students will then outline some of the social and political changes that resulted from the Manhattan Project.
Website
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Web Japan: History

For Students 3rd - 8th
Check out this chart detailing the major historic events in Japan from its Stone Age beginnings to 2005. There is a column on the chart that shows major world events also for comparison.
Website
Globe Tracks

Travel for Kids: Fun Things to Do in Japan

For Students 3rd - 5th
"Kids already know a little about Japan if they collect Pokemon cards or buy Hello Kitty. Japan may seem very "modern," but it has a long history of tradition deeply embedded in everyday life." This site explores the geography and...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Japan Tokyo

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Tokyo, the capital of Japan. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Handout
Encyclopedia of Earth

Encyclopedia of Earth: Japan

For Students 9th - 10th
The Encyclopedia of Earth provides an overview of Japan, including its geography, natural resources, history, government, economy, and much more. Maps and images are also included, along with sources used to create the entry.
Handout
Yale University

The Opening of Japan to the West

For Students 9th - 10th
Site offers wonderful illustrations of Perry's expedition to Japan with brief descriptions.
Website
Yale University

Yale University: Tracking the Destructive Power of the Pacific Ocean's Tsunami

For Students 9th - 10th
Expert Lori Dengler discusses the long history of tsunamis and earthquakes in the Pacific rim and Japan in particular.
Article
BBC

Bbc: Religions: Divinity of the Emporer

For Students 9th - 10th
Article on Japanese culture and religion looks at the concept of divinity of the Emporer.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1890 1945: The Manhattan Project and the Atomic Bomb

For Students 9th - 10th
In 1945, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan, ending World War II.

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