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Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: Lesson: You Too Can Haiku

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Here's a creative lesson for young scholars to examine various haikus, and Japanese culture, then write their own haiku poem, and illustrate it using watercolors! Provides plenty of links to more information, a thorough explanation of...
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: The World of Haiku

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A productive, technologically relevant site that provides a lesson plan on the Japanese Haiku. Complete with educational objectives and extensive student-centered lesson development.
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Graphic
Other

Pacific Asia Museum: Animals in Japanese Art

For Students 9th - 10th
A rich-media site that explores animals, both real and imaginary, as a central theme in Japanese paintings and prints. Learn about the traditions and techniques of Japanese painting and prints and see examples of work created by Japanese...
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Graphic
Other

Joseph Wu Origami Inc.: Origami Gallery

For Students 3rd - 5th
An unbelievable collection of pictures of origami creations. Click on each picture to get a closer look.
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Handout
The British Museum

British Museum: Explore World Cultures: Japan

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the Japanese art in this historical overview and image gallery of Japanese art with detailed descriptions, from the collection of the British Museum.
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Website
Other

Japan National Tourism: Japanese Culture

For Students 3rd - 8th
The culture of Japan is showcased. Click anywhere on the menu bar to access topics and illustrations ranging from architecture, temples, bonsai, tea ceremony, gardens, costumes, floral art, calligraphy, and many more.
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Website
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Kids Web Japan: Culture Corner

For Students 9th - 10th
Sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this comprehensive site explains traditional Japanese arts, crafts, and culture in a way that's very friendly to younger students. Traditional arts covered include drumming, the tea...
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Unit Plan
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Activities on Japan

For Students 3rd - 5th
This collection of K-3 activities about Japan includes an English/Japanese Picture Dictionary, the colors in Japanese, a Zoom School feature on Japan, Japanese origami, Japanese artists, maps, coloring pages, and more.
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Website
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Web Japan: Japan Fact Sheet

For Students 9th - 10th
This site actually provides a number of "fact sheets" on a range of topics related to Japan's geography, government, economy, culture, society, and sports. Read online or download handy PDF documents for classroom use. The site has...
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Website
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Web Japan: Culture

For Students 3rd - 8th
Japanese traditional culture and modern culture are explored in this article from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Learn about the many traditional ceremonies and arts that are a part of Japanese culture.
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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.
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Website
Other

Japan Society

For Students 9th - 10th
The Japan Society was founded in 1907 in New York City providing social, cultural, and professional activities.
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Website
Other

Japan: The Official Guide: History & Culture: Experience Japanese Culture

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Understand the culture of Japan from architecture to Bonsai to storytelling and tallisman.
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Unit Plan
Columbia University

Asia for Educators: Contemporary Japan: Culture and Society

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive site on the culture and society of contemporary Japan, with video resources for learning about urban and rural life, the Japanese family, education and work, Japanese identity, the pop culture of Japan, and traditional...
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Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: East Asia in the World

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Drawing attention to relationships between East Asian countries and the rest of the world enhance lessons by introducing some of the resources mentioned.
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Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: East Asia in the World

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Drawing attention to relationships between East Asian countries and the rest of the world enhance lessons by introducing some of the resources mentioned.
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Being in the Noh: An Introduction to Japanese Noh Plays

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Being in the Noh: An Introduction to Japanese Noh Plays." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
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Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Wide Angle: A Look at a Japanese Classroom

For Students 9th - 10th
In a video segment, learn about education in Japan by watching Ken, a first-grader, attend school. [3:02]
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Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Ken

For Students 9th - 10th
This video segment from Wide Angle features Ken, a third grade student in Japan.
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Website
Yale University

Yale Peabody Museum: Hina Matsuri: The Doll Festival

For Students 9th - 10th
A slideshow of fifteen porcelain Japanese dolls at the Peabody Museum. You can see the dolls and learn about Hina Matsuri, the traditional doll festival that displays them.
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Unit Plan
The Field Museum

The Boone Collection

For Students 9th - 10th
A stunning collection of Asian art from China, Korea, and Japan. Also includes a section on Japanese women.
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Lesson Plan
University of Illinois

University of Illinois: Alan G. Chalk Guides to Japanese Films

For Students 9th - 10th
Reviews of 26 Japanese movies that each include a list of suggested reading materials, plot summary, suggested grades, and a brief lesson plan. They are organized into two groups: one for students of literature and the humanities, and...
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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...
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Lesson Plan
American Forum for Global Education

American Forum for Global Education: Haiku as a Cultural Icon

For Teachers 9th - 10th
These detailed lesson plans let students research about Shiki and Haiku, compose on their own poetry, and learn about Japanese culture.