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Lawson Fusao Inada

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read and analyze poetry written by Lawson Fusao Inada. They read and discuss the executive order issued to Japanese Americans during WWII, take a field trip to the Nikkei Legacy Center, and read and discuss poems.
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Courtship and Calligraphy in The Tale of Genji

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils discover through an examination of The Tale of Genji the importance of calligraphy to courtship rituals in the Japanese court culture of the late Heian period ( 897-1185). Three possible enrichment activities are included
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Narrow Road to the Interior

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the life and work of the Japanese poet, Matsuo Basho as the Japanese poetic forms are studied. Nature, symbolism, and history are probed as the lesson is developed.
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Writing & Language

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine Chinese and East Asian writing characters. They discuss how their writing systems differ from others found in the world. They practice reading and pronouncing Chinese and Japanese names and words.
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Horses

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Learners discuss the importance of the horse as a "beast of burden" animal in Japanese culture and create a legend, myth or tall tale set in Japan with a horse as the central character.
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Hidden Messages

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the concept of censorship in authoritarian government and how Japanese and Chinese artists used their work as political commentary. This lesson includes possible lesson enrichments.
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Creating A Wall Hanging Or Scroll

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students create wall hangings or scrolls in the Asian style known as Sumi-e in this cross-curricular lesson intended for use in the Language Arts, Social Studies, Humanties, or Art classroom.
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Flora, Fauna, and the Passing Seasons

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students discover representations in art, religion and cultural practices of the flora and fauna of specific geographical regions in this early elementary lesson plan. The lesson ends with a mural project by the entire class.
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Nature and Haiku Poetry

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students compose haiku poems and recognize how cultures value nature and natural forces through the study of Japanese poetry. This lesson includes a bibliography of resources.
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Standing Woman

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore a Japanese science fiction story that deals with the dangers of technology, failed attempts at utopia, mind control, and loss of loved ones through the reading of Yasutaka Tsutaka's "Standing Woman."
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A Day in the Life

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students, while studying the "day-in-the-life photographs" of a Deai student, compare and contrast the lives and activities of Kojiro, one other Deai student and themselves. Sequential order plays an important role within this lesson for...
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Fortunes

For Teachers 4th - 5th
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.
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Getting Oriented

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore the geography, culture, and philosophy of Asia using all five senses and information about China and Japan. This lesson plan is detailed and may take several days of in-class activities to complete.
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The Role of Monuments And Memorials

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students investigate the use of monuments and memorials in various cultures in this three day Language Arts or Social Studies instructional activity. Emphasis is placed on in-class discussions, research, and individual creative projects.
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Noh Theater

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the roles in Noh drama and the significance of Noh masks while creating their own version of a Noh play in this High School activity adaptable for either the Language Arts or Theater classroom.
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Animals in Japan

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students compare and contrast common animals children love and have as pets in Japan and America in this early elementary lesson. The culminating project is an original work of art by each student depicting an animal of their choice.
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The Ideal Home

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders design their ideal home.  In this ideal home lesson, 5th graders illustrate and describe their ideal home.  Students present visuals to their classmates. Lesson is part of a unit.
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Television and Movies

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore media.  In this television and movies lesson, 5th graders compare a variety of types of television shows and movies. 
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International Festival: Japan

For Teachers K
Students discover Japanese culture and the importance of Sakura to Japan. In this international festival activity, students demonstrate an appreciation for the Sakura trees beauty by creating Sakura trees from white and pink dyed cotton...
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Social Studies: Your Family Does What?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders compare and contrast their own personal culture with that of Japan. They fill out questionnaires, compile the results, and match them with Japanese answers to the same forms. Students create a Venn diagram of the...
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Modern Japan Unit Plan

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders research modern Japanese culture, society and traditions, examine relationship between Japanese culture and its environment, compare and contrast Japanese Society with Canadian Society, compare lives of people in Japan with...
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Kokeshi Dolls

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study the Japanese holiday Hina Matsuri and its traditions and celebration. They explore the history, location and cultural significance of Kokeshi dolls.
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Word Play

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the history of Chinese American artist Xu Bing. In this multicultural lesson, students collaborate in small groups to identify letters in the artist's work, and brainstorm how they would create their own images from...
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Japan

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders experience, through a hands-on approach, Japan's geography, daily life, language, foods, education, customs, art and literature. They discover all the exciting events that take place to make it really seem like they are...