Curated OER
You do! We do! We all Scream for Haiku!
Haikus offer a way to explore new ideas for teaching poetry, science, and math.
Curated OER
Zen Buddhism and Modern Utopia
High schoolers work collaboratively to analyze the various religious beliefs of Zen Buddhists. Emphasis is placed upon class discussion and the ideal of a Utopian environment or society.
Curated OER
Kokeshi Dolls
Students create Kokeshi Dolls using paints, dowel ends and glue. They research the traditions and history of Hina Matsuri, or girls' day in Japan.
Curated OER
A Date Which Will Live in Infamy
Students analyze Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Day of Infamy" War Address. Students read the original first typed draft of the speech, and compare handwritten changes with the original to determine whether the changes strengthened or weakened...
Curated OER
Banpo Village: Gone, But Not Forgotten
Sixth graders plan a trip to China and prepare yourself for the Banpo excavation site competition by studying prehistoric and ancient Chinese history.
Other
Oberlin: Arts of Asia in Reach (Lesson Plans)
A collection of 15 different lesson plans focusing on the art of Asia. Lessons that focus on a variety of different media are available for all age levels.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Japanese Poetry Tanka? You're Welcome
A poem "which expresses a personal response to nature," the tanka is a form of Japanese writing very similar to the haiku. This lesson plan is a great extension to any study or exploration of Japanese art, culture, and writing. Included...
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Lesson: You Too Can Haiku
Here's a creative lesson for students 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 the...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Gyotaku: The Ancient Japanese Art of Printing Fish
How did fishermen record their trophy catches before the invention of photography? In 19th century Japan, fishing boats were equipped with rice paper, sumi-e ink, and brushes in order to create gyotaku: elaborate rubbings of freshly...
![Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Japanese Stone Lanterns [Pdf] Lesson Plan](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Japanese Stone Lanterns [Pdf] Lesson Plan")
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Japanese Stone Lanterns [Pdf]
A study of the stone lanterns that can be found in Japanese gardens. Students will learn about their history and symbolism, and create lanterns of their own out of clay. This is designed to be in conjunction with a visit to a Japanese...
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Japanese Seasonal Scroll Painting [Pdf]
An activity where students learn about the art of Japanese scroll painting, and create their own scroll painting to reflect the seasonal changes in a garden. This is designed to be in conjunction with a visit to a Japanese garden, but...
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Gyotaku: Japanese Fish Printing [Pdf]
An activity where students learn about the koi, an important symbol in Japanese culture, and create a gyotaku fish printing. This is designed to be done in conjunction with a visit to a Japanese garden but can be easily adapted.
HotChalk
Hot Chalk: Lesson Plans Page: A Thousand Paper Cranes
This historical fiction lesson plan is for students reading Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr, in which they can discuss the tragedy of Hiroshima and its impact as well as other themes.
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Elements of a Japanese Garden [Pdf]
A multi-faceted activity where students learn about the elements of a Japanese garden, then construct a peepshow book that demonstrates their understanding of foreground, middle ground, and background to represent a Japanese garden....
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: Japan Images of a People
A wonderful three instructional activity unit that examines the art of Japanese screen paintings. Following some valuable information on the culture and country student will have an opportunity to create their own screen.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Suminagashi Self Portrait
In this lesson, students learn about the Japanese technique of suminagashi by viewing a podcast and then using the technique to create a self portrait. Podcast is linked in the lesson plan. [9:49]
Other
Kodak: Social Studies Lesson Plans
This Kodak site has twelve lesson plans submitted by teachers from every grade level. Each activity integrates photography into the lesson.
Scholastic
Scholastic Instructor: Origami Math
Have you ever tried origami? This Japanese form of paper folding is the basis of this math lesson plan. Students will have an opportunity to integrate their creative side with their math skills.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Oceans: A Sensory Haiku
In this lesson plan, students use the ocean and their five senses as inspirations to create their own unique haikus. Lesson provides assessment criteria and a list of sources.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Learning Lab: Japan: Images of a People
Students learn to view Japanese paintings, they make a screen, and they learn about the culture of Japan. There are three lesson plans and all allow all needed materials to be downloaded.
American Forum for Global Education
American Forum for Global Education: Haiku as a Cultural Icon
These detailed lesson plans let students research about Shiki and Haiku, compose on their own poetry, and learn about Japanese culture.
Other
Sumo Faq: History
The site gives an extensive lesson of how Sumo Wrestling came to Japan in the 8th century. It also contains links to further information.
California State University
Origami
Students of all ages love learning origami. This lesson gives good outlines on how to set up a classroom for this challenging, yet fun art form. There is a great suggestion to incorporate the picture book "Sadako and the Thousand Paper...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Say Hi to Haibun Fun
In this lesson plan, students will consider Say Hi to Haibun Fun which looks at a Japanese style of writing called haibun. Worksheets and other supporting materials can be found under the Resources tab.