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Japan

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Things to Know

Capital: Tokyo(one of the world's most populous cities).

Japan is a country lying off the east coast of Asia. It consists of a great string of islands.
Four main islands are: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu
Numerous smaller islands:

Japan is one of the world's most geologically unstable areas. Japan experiences many earthquake tremors yearly. Most of them are minor, though major earthquakes have caused considerable damage and loss of life. Offshore earthquakes can produce tsunamis, massive ocean waves that can wreak destruction along the Pacific shore. Violent volcanic eruptions occur frequently.

Things to Do

Art

Cherry Blossoms

Blow paint tree trunks. On white paper, use watered-down black paint and a straw. Allow to dry, then apply small crushed squares of pink tissue paper to create the cherry blossoms.

Papier-mache Daruma
Need: Oval balloons, newspaper, paper mache' paste( or use flour & water paste), paint and brushes

A daruma (a variation of the American punching bag). In Japan, the daruma is thought to bring good health. The daruma is probably Japan's best-known folk toy. You can see it frequently in Japan, including on key rings. His name is short for Bodhidharma, a Buddhist priest from India who lived in the sixth century. Legends say that Bodhidharma sat absolutely still and meditated for nine years. He didn't move at all, and after nine years he found he had lost the use of his arms and legs. In fact, they had withered away.

So darumas are made with no arms or legs. They have weighted bottoms so that no matter how you roll them, they will always return right side up. Some say this symbolizes the spirit of patience, perseverance, and determination shown by the priest.

Blow up oval balloons. Tear up lots of strips of paper and soak them in paper mache' paste. Cover the balloon completely with the strips. Let dry.

Add extra layers of strips to the bottom, rounded end. This will give the bottom the extra weight it needs so that the daruma will end up in an upright position. The daruma is traditionally painted red, the color of the robes worn by the priests. Paint the body and the features on the face.

Japanese Fan
Need: tongue depressors, paper plates, tempera paint, various colors, optional: sequins, ribbon, glitter, feathers, etc.

Fans have been used in Japan since ancient times. They were once used as an indication of a person's rank in society or profession.

Glue a tongue depressor to the top one of the plates, extending from the edge. Glue or staple two paper plates together with the tongue depressor between them. Decorate the paper plates with paint, ribbon, glitter, sequins, feathers, etc..

Writing

Haiku Poetry

Haiku is the shortest form of poetry. Traditionally, it is non-rhyming with three lines. All lines total seventeen syllables:

5 syllables in the first line
7 syllables in the second line
5 syllables in the third line

The subject matter of Haikus are the little things one sees, hears, tastes, smells, and feels, particularly in nature. Ancient Haikus usually had a seasonal clue in them as well: frog=early summer; cricket=fall; heavy snow=winter; and butterfly =spring.

Haiku Walk

Go for a "Haiku walk." Let the children take items for writing. Let the children point out and write down any small, interesting things they see. Then return to the classroom and write haikus. If the walk is not possible, gather different specimens from outside and put groupings on desks: pine cones, leaves, plants, etc. Allow children to observe, and then have them write haikus.

Kanji
Japanese writing, characters adapted from Chinese characters that were brought to Japan in the 5th century. Kanji is ideograms (representable objects are portrayed as pictures).

Practice writing Kanji.

Write a rebus story and insert appropriate Japanese Kanji symbols instead of pictures.

Other Sites

Children's Haiku Garden
Illustrated haiku poetry created by children from the US, Canada, the UK, and Japan.

Kanji Writing Tutor
Watch stroke order and general kanji shape.

Cooking

Rice Balls
Need: cooked rice, cinnamon and sugar, baggies.

Give each child a baggie with a scoop of rice in it. Form the rice into balls, take the balls out of the baggie and roll them in cinnamon and sugar if desired.

Chocolate Dipped Pretzels
Need: 1 bag of pretzels (logs work well for this), 2 bags of white semisweet or milk chocolate chips, Use toppings like chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds; sprinkles; crushed mini M&M, sprinkles, coconut, or other favorites.

Line baking sheets with waxed paper. Melt one bag of chocolate at a time. Melting in the microwave is safest when working with children.

Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for one minute and stir. If more heating is necessary, microwave 15 seconds at a time, stirring until smooth. If using the top of a double boiler on the stove, an Adult should melt chocolate gradually.

Bring the heated chocolate to the work table, placing far from the reach of children to prevent burns. Chocolate can be gently reheated, if it gets too hard to easily dip.

Using tongs or a spoon, have one child quickly dip pretzels in chocolate or hold with tongs and spoon on chocolate, allowing the excess to run off. Place dipped pretzels on waxed paper lined baking sheets.

Using a spoon, sprinkle the chosen topping on the dipped pretzel. Chill for 10 minutes, or until the chocolate is set. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

Games

Jan-Ken-Pon, Japanese Game

This traditional Japanese game has been used as a way to break ties and to make decisions for allotting privileges.

In unison, two players shout "Jen-Ken-Pon", and on "Pon" both thrust out one hand with either an open hand (representing paper), a closed fist (representing a stone) or two extended fingers (representing scissors).

Determining the winner is as follows: stone wins by breaking scissors; scissors win by cutting paper; and paper wins by enveloping the stone. If both players have the same hand motion, the game is quickly repeated until a decision is reached.

Prints Available at AllPosters

Boy on Mt. Fuji
Boy on Mt. Fuji Art Print
Hokusai...
Buy at AllPosters.com



Things to Do-Other Sites

The Origami Page
Includes photo galleries and downloadable diagrams

The Origami Page
Includes photo galleries and downloadable diagrams

 

Kids Web Japan
A great site about Japan.

Anthony's Kite Workshop

Find instructions for making a multitude of kites as well as kite construction tips, flying games, and kite stories.


Stories to Read

Ancient World presents six brief tales from Japanese Myth.


Tour

Edo Virtual Tour
Edo is the ancient name for Tokyo, Japan. Travel bake in time to the land of the Samurai and the Shogun.

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