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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.
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