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