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Map of Japan

Flag of Japan

Population:  Grades  3rd - 5th
Duration Of Course:  4-6 Weeks (November 2008-January 2009)

 This Curriculum is in partial fulfillment of the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund (JFMF) awarded to Mrs. Oyekan in 2008.  This unit is for students in third through fifth grades at the 21^st Century after-school program at Cunningham Elementary School to focus on and explore an understanding of Japan.  Students will create their own Japanese PowerPoint presentation, Bulletin, or Newspaper. In doing so, they will learn about Japan’s history, flag, map, location, population, money, culture, government, sports, language, religion,  food, clothing, and landmarks.  They will also learn about Japanese numbers, cuisine, costume, and current events. 

TEKS OBJECTIVES

SOCIAL STUDIES: 
SS.3.4D.  The student identifies language, customs, values, beliefs, and other human characteristics of a region and compares them to the human characteristics of other regions. 
SS.3.16E The student interprets and creates visual representations of information including graphs, charts, tables, timelines, illustrations, and maps.   SS.5.26D Create written and visual materials such as journal entries, reports, graphics organizers, reports, and bibliographies. 

MATH: 
MATH.3.1C  The student determines value of a collection of coins and bills.                                                                                 
LANGUAGE ARTS: 
ELA.5.4B Compare, contrast, and relate oral traditions across regions and cultures with one’s own.                              
ELA.4.4B  Compare, contrast, and relate oral traditions across regions  and cultures with one’s own. 
ELA.3.2B Compare and categorize language and oral traditions (family stories) that reflect customs, regions, and cultures. 
ELA.3.4C  Paraphrase a spoken message by summarizing or clarifying key  points. ELA.4.2A Interpret and paraphrase speakers' messages (both verbal and nonverbal), purposes, and perspectives.   
ELA.5.2A  Interpret and paraphrase speakers' messages (both verbal and nonverbal), purposes, and perspectives.  

SCIENCE: 
SCI.3.2E Construct simple graphs, tables, maps, and charts to organize, examine and evaluate information.   
SCI.4.2E Construct simple graphs, tables, maps, and charts to organize, examine, and evaluate information.   
SCI.5.2E Construct simple graphs, tables, maps, and charts using tools including computers to organize, examine, and evaluate information.

Weeks  1 & 2

Objective: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the flag and map of Japan, its geography, important landmarks, education, and government. 

Students will demonstrate understanding of the typical Japanese foods and meals: that most foods are sushi or tempura based, that rice is the center of each meal, and that vegetables and fish are major components.  Students will prepare simple Japanese meal “Rice Ball”.  Students will be introduced to chopsticks and how they are used.  Students will then cook a “Rice Ball” meal.

RICE BALL - RECIPE

Rice balls are popular Japanese treats.  The Japanese eat them at home, in restaurants and at picnics.  You must use Japanese rice, which is found in many grocery stores.  This is a simple recipe that you can make at home with your parents.

Ingredients
1 cup Japanese rice, uncooked
2 cups water

What To Do:

1.  Wash rice in water.  Drain well
2.  Place in a medium saucepan.
3.  Add water.  Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
4.  Keep covered and lower to medium.  Cook 10 minutes.
5.  Lower heat to low and cook 10 minutes.  Do not stir.
6.  After rice has cooled, shape into small balls. 
7.  Sprinkle salt or sesame seeds on the outside.

Week 2
Objective: Students will identify what they know about Japan, and what they want to know about Japan.

Materials: Various Japanese artifacts, a large chart paper, markers
Bring a few Japanese artifacts, or items relating to Japan to get the students interested in and excited about Japan. Do a KWL with the students all together about Japan. Make a big class chart. Have the students share what they know about Japan and write those things in the K column of the chart. Write down what they want to know in the W column of the chart. Explain that you'll be doing a Japan unit and learning about Japan. At the end of the unit we will fill in L column with what they've learned about Japan.

Week 3
Objective: Students will be able to relate to the Japanese way of family living and apply that to their own lives through discussions and greetings.  They will learn to bow and sit on the floor, etc .

Materials: Book: The Boy of the Three-Year Nap.

Read the story, The Boy of the Three-Year Nap by Dianne Snyder. Discuss with the students the different roles and responsibilities of the Japanese people. Relate to the students that because the country is so small and there are so many people that occupy it, many families live with their extended family. Have the students think about their extended families. Discuss the difference it would make in their lives to have so many people living in one place and how it would

 SPEAKING JAPANESE

What would you say in the following situations?

    1. Your friend gives you an apple:  arigato

   2. How do you say:  What is your name?  Namae wa nan desu ka

3.    How do you say: My name is…?  Watashi wa(your name) desu.

4.    What is your teacher’s name: Sensei  no namae wa nan desu ka.

5.    Answer: Sensei no namae wan Oyekan sensi desu.

6.    What is your friend’s name?:  Toma dachi no namae wan nan desu ka

7.    Answer:  Toma dachi no namae wan Jose desu ka.

8.    You meet a friend in the afternoon:  konnichiwa

9.    You come back from school:  tadaima

10.   You meet your friend in the morning: ohayou gozaimasu

11. You say goodbye to a friend:  sayonara

12.   You meet your friend's parents for the first time:  Hajimemashite

13.   You run into a friend in the evening:  konbanwa

14.   You leave the house to go to school:  ittekimasu

15.   You head for bed: oyasuminasai

16.   You accidentally bump into a friend:  gomennasai

17.   You say “yes” to a friend:  hai

18.   You say “no” to a friend:  iie

 

Weeks 4/5

Objective: Students will practice research skills and use the information they have learned to create PowerPoint presentations for their final products.

Materials: Computer, Internet, Websites
After the students have become more familiar with the people and cultures of Japan, they will carry out some research on Japan, the population, schools, government, culture, food, important landmarks, money, dress, peace museums, national sports, etc.  Some may plan a trip to Japan.

(See student final products titled: “Student PowerPoint Products”)

Week 6  - JAPAN DAY

Objective: Students will be able to relate to the Japanese people and culture by participating in several Japanese activities and will end the day with a discussion session.

Materials:
Kimonos for students to wear
Chopsticks – will be provided for all Cunningham students today.
Japanese food
Mass display of origami cranes on the hallways
Display of Japan Flag and artifacts from the Japan Consulate in Houston.

To ensure maximum participation by all, copies of the following materials will be made available to all Cunningham Teachers to work with their students:

Japanese greetings, Sumo Wrestling information and coloring pages, Counting in Japanese – Nos. 1-10, Japanese gestures, Japanese Money, Let’s Design Your Kimono, Quiz: Circle which items come from Japan, Places In Japan, Fan Coloring Page, and Japanese Picture Words

Activity:  Students will arrive early in the morning, meet together and change to Kimono dresses.  Students and Mrs. Oyekan will line up at the entrance of the school to greet teachers, students, and parents with a bow and will greet: “Ohayo gozaimatsu Sen seni” – for teachers and parents, and will greet their fellow students: “ohayo gozaimas” while bowing and hands clasped together. 

After classes begin, students will return to their classrooms. 

During the day, students from various grade levels or class groups will come to the hallway to present their class activities for the Japan Day.  Pictures will be taken of each group. 

In the afternoon, students in the Social Studies group will reassemble and participate in a Japanese-style dinner.  (Please see photos)

The students will eat with Japanese meal with chopsticks as they kneel on the carpet. There will be Japanese music in the background. 

After dinner, students will scrub the cafeteria floor as is done in Japan and the day will end with students coming back together to discuss what they learned throughout the unit.

TECHNOLOGY: 

Students will be expected to use the Internet and other available resources to research the following topics:

·        Location, Population, Money

·        Housing

·        Customs and Language

·        Sports and Celebration

·        Food, Art, and Music

·        Clothing

·        Landmarks or historical places in Japan for example Mt. Fuji, Tokyo
    Tower, or any other of your choice.

·        Importance of Peace In Our World


This can be in the form of an assessment or a group project which would be excellent for G/T students -  Example:

·        Where is Japan?

·        How many regions are there?

·        How many Prefectures are in Japan?

·        What type of government do they have in Japan?

The above questions can be demonstrated by students drawing a map.

·        Are there some similarities and differences between the Japanese and
    American students?

·        Importance of peace in our world and between Japan and United
    States.

 Japan Websites

Kids Web Japan:
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/index.html

Japan from A-Z:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e691.html
My Tokyo Hotel, The New Otani:
http://www.newotani.co.jp/en/tokyo/index.html
The Time in Japan:
http://www.worldtimeserver.com/current_time_in_JP.aspx

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum:
http://www.city.hiroshima.jp/e/index-E.html

Hiroshima -- The Children's Peace Monument: http://www.city.hiroshima.jp/shimin/heiwa/monument.html

Experience Japan:
http://www.amphi.com/~psteffen/fmf/

Japan for 6-10 Year Olds:
http://www.sover.net/~johnd/categories.html

Fact Monster: Japan:
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0107666.html

Transport Japan:
http://www.transport-pf.or.jp/english/index.html

Tokyo Webcam -- live shots updated every minute!:
http://www.nttls.co.jp/webcam/

Flight To Japan
http://www.smartertravel.com/compare-prices/flights/

Chopsticks
http://www.idea-frames.us/maintenance/

Japanese restaurants in Houston
http://www.insiderpages.com/b/15240011233?

RESOURCES

ARTIFACTS

Pipe Flute

Chopsticks

Head band (#1)

Japanese coins in various denominations

Kimono (children 5)

Adult (5)

Obi (3)

Origami Paper

Book Covers from University of Hiroshima

Book Cover and Classroom Games from Home Stay Family

Summer Yukata (2)

Toilet Slippers from New Otani Hotel Tokyo and Oriental Hotel Hiroshima

Memory Game

Set of Tea Cups by Home Stay Family

JFMF SEMINAR HANDOUTS

Japan’s New Educational Challenge by Edward A. and Kyoko T. Jones, Editors

The Courses of study in Japan – Elementary: General Provisions, Mathematics, Science, Art and

The Courses of study in Japan – Lower Secondary School : General Provisions, Mathematics, Science, Art and Handcraft (Translated)

The Courses of study in Japan – Upper Secondary School : General Provisions, Mathematics, Science, Art and Handcraft (Translated)

Education for Children With Special Educational Needs in Japan by Shibo Narita, Professor  Emeritus, Hyogo University of Teacher Education

Peace Education: JFMF Special Seminar  by Susumu Ishitani

TEXTBOOKS

Elementary Mathematics   1^st Grade by Gakkoh Tosho

Elementary Mathematics Grade 2 Vol. I by Gakkoh Tosho

Elementary Mathematics Grade 2 Vol. II by Gakkoh Tosho

Elementary Mathematics Grade 3 Vol. I by Gakkoh Tosho

Elementary Mathematics Grade 3 Vol. II by Gakkoh Tosho

Elementary Mathematics Grade 4 Vol. I by Gakkoh Tosho

Elementary Mathematics Grade 4 Vol. II by Gakkoh Tosho

Elementary Mathematics Grade 5  Vol. I by Gakkoh Tosho

Elementary Mathematics Grade 5 Vol. II by Gakkoh Tosho

Sadako And The Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr

A General Outline Recipe on Okonomiyaki Cooking

Sumo Wrestling International Championships Brochure

Authentic Autographs received at the International Sumo Wrestling in Hiroshima, 2008

Hiroshima Peace Site http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/

Hiroshima Nagasaki: The fate of the Human Family is in your hands.

Maps of Tokyo City and Tokyo Metro Guide

BOOKS

The A-bomb That I Experienced by Keijiro Matsushima

Mathematics Education in Japan by Eizo Nagasaki

Japan’s Economy by Takahiro Miyao

Introduction to Kabuki and Nihon Buyo (Japanese Classical Dance)

Gem Fire by Kenji Miyazawa

Hiroshima University: Pictorial Guide

Draw Your Own MANGA: Beyond The Basics  (How To Draw Comic Characters)

Video: Kyogen in English: The Inherited Cramp & The Tea Box by Don Kenny & Shichiro

Hotel Room Sandals

Toothpaste and Brush from Hotel New Otani, Tokyo

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081117/sp_wl_afp/lifestylejapansportsbaseball_081117063048http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081117/sp_wl_afp/lifestylejapansportsbaseball_081117063048

Map of Japan (laminated)

Map of Hiroshima

Map of Tokyo City & Tokyo Metro Guide

National Diet of Japan Brochure (House of Representatives)

Newspaper- The Daily Yomiuri

Japan Guide from Ministry of Foreign Affairs

DVD

Group Presentations (2008)

Peace Education Lectures (JFMF 2007)

Kabuki (JFMF 2008)

Mrs. Oyekan, Facilitator

Recipient of Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund
About Ms. Oyekan
Publications
Trip to Japan
Education in Japan
Japan Day at Cunningham
Social Studies Unit Plan
Cunningham Home

Last updated
04/19/2009
07:51 PM