Land of the Rising Sun!

Fascinating traditions, delicious food, cherry blossoms, intricate crafts, stunning landscapes! Get ready for an unforgettable trip to Japan. 

Understanding and appreciating diverse cultures is a crucial part of development. Exploring other cultures allows students to find out about other people and also help them to explore their own place in the community. Students can gain valuable insights into the world in many new ways by learning about different cultural celebrations and traditions.

Start a project about Japan by finding Japan on a map. The distinct crescent shape of Japan is interesting so you can ask your students to use modeling clay to reproduce the shape. Draw a map of Japan, using the “How to Draw” resource. And learn about the color of the flag. Explore the meaning behind the red symbol (a stylized sun) using the Fact Booklet Japan. 

Read stories about Japan, there are several beautiful stories about cherry blossoms. Reading stories is a great way to ignite an interest in learning how to draw and paint cherry blossoms. Japan has several traditions that continue to hold significance in contemporary Japan. Make Japanese origami and explore the versatility of this traditional craft. Today, the old folding technology has been used to design new inventions from aerospace and the construction industry to medicine and robotics. 

Traditional Japanese cuisine consists of a blend of rice, fish, and vegetables. The food must be beautifully displayed as well as tasty. Rice is the primary dish and it is prepared in many different ways. Onigiri is popular for lunch and the rice is formed into balls, filled with fish, meat or a vegetable and then wrapped in dried seaweed (Nori). Traditionally onigiri is made in a triangular shape and wrapped with Nori but if you are making these in the classroom you can use children's rice molds. The rice molds come in a variety of whimsical shapes like cats and rabbits. 

A fun activity is to write a collaborative poem. Haiku is an ideal poetic style for young kids due to its short form. Each poem consists of three lines, usually about nature, the seasons, and animals. Show your students some easy Haiku examples and then either let them try writing their own or make a collaborative poem. Decorate your classroom with Haiku poems, and drawings from the “How to Draw Japan”, a lovely way to infuse your learning space with Japanese culture and craft. 

Both resources can be found in my store.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher

August 2024 Products

August means it’s time to go Back to School! You might have had a couple of weeks off to do all of those summer things, so now it is time to start planning and making the most of the month ahead. Let August be a month of exploration, discovery, and cultural enrichment. 

Travel to Europe and Switzerland with the students to mark the onset of August. Switzerland is a mountainous country located in the heart of Europe, famous for its watchmaking, delicious chocolates and stunning landscape. Use my “How to Draw” booklet to teach your students about iconic landmarks, architecture and wildlife. Since 1891, the Swiss have celebrated Swiss National Day on the 1st of August. The celebration marks the signing of the Federal Charter of 1291. Large celebrations are held at famous spots such as Rhine Falls, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Cities, towns or even villages have special traditions for this day.  

Dinosaurs are amazing creatures and so popular that they are celebrated several times yearly. While International Dinosaur Day is celebrated on June 1st and Fossil Day on October 13th, August 2nd is Dinosaur Day. A project using a Fact Booklet about Dinosaurs will inspire your students to learn and explore even on warm summer’s day. There is a wide selection of stunning fiction and nonfiction books about dinosaurs, providing an enriching opportunity to dive deeper into the world of these ancient creatures. 

August Math and Literacy Centers with a cool watermelon theme are the perfect way to add some revision activities. Watermelons are a delicious fruit with roots traced back to  Ancient Egypt. Celebrate this fruit's historical significance and sweetness on National Watermelon Day on August 3rd.



Capture your students' imagination by exploring all the delicious things you can make from potatoes. Mark National Potato Day,  August 19th, with a discussion about the versatility of this little tuber, from hash browns, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes and potato chips. You can also make bread using potatoes and pancakes. Your students will love reading the fact booklet about how this vegetable even traveled to space. Is it not amazing that this tube not only has spread all over the globe but also was the first vegetable to be grown in space?



Wishing you a memorable end to your summer classroom adventures as you prepare for an exciting new year ahead.

All products can be found in my store. 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher