Introduction Here are some DISCUSSION TOPICS, WORK IDEAS and PROJECTS to be done for JAPAN. *All these topics have been carefully chosen and is the most basic knowledge Rock and Roll preschoolers and teachers can gain, by the end of the unit.* However, how you choose to execute and teach these necessary topics is up to you, so long as they are all covered appropriately. We encourage Rock and Roll Daycare teachers to share and create works based on their own research inspired by these topics. Introduce ALL topics during Circle and story time over a 2 month period (Jan 1-Feb 28) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Discussion topics Introduction

● Japan is a chain of four islands, located on the Eastern coast of Asia- map , ● Map of East Asia ● The largest city and capital of the country is Tokyo. ● Osaka, Okinawa, and Kyoto are other large cities ● Japan is a constitutional monarchy, the royal emperor is Naruhito ● Matsumoto castle ● Imperial palace ● Golden pavilion temple

Social Studies- Art, Culture, Philosophy, Geography,

● Origami - Art of folded paper ● Kabuki - Unique performance style combining theater, dance, poetry, and music ● Anime - Japanese animation ● Ikebana - The art of flower arranging ● Kanji - Japanese calligraphy adopted from Chinese writing. Kanji represent

words or ideas. ● Sumo - Traditional wrestling style ● Ukiyo-e - woodblock prints depicting nature, everyday life, important figures, and

scenes from stories or plays ● Onsen baths - Public bath houses where people come to relax ● Vending machines - Japan has 5 million vending machines, or 1 for every 23

people. What unusual things might you find in a vending machine in Japan? Festivals and Celebrations https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2062.html

- Shogatsu (New Year’s Day) - Hina Matsuri (Girl’s Day / Doll Festival) - Golden Week / Children’s Day - Tanabata Matsuri (Summer Star Festival) - Obon - Gion Matsuri - 2020 Summer Olympic Games

Famous Japanese people ● Yoko Ono ● Emperor Naruhito (Just recently became the emperor. Historians call his new

reign the Reiwa Era) ● Osamu Tezuka -- Visionary comic (manga) artist and animation pioneer who

drew over 100,000 pages of comics. Creator of Astroboy and hundreds of other characters.

● Akira Kurosawa -- Legendary cinema director whose films include “The Seven Samurai”

● Shigeru Miyamoto - Video game pioneer and creator of Mario, Legend of Zelda, and Donkey Kong

● Murasaki Shikibu -- Author of “the Tale of Genji” written around the year 1000, she is widely considered to be the author of the world’s first novel.

Foods

● Sushi and bento ● Rice ● Izakaya ● Seafood ● Ramen ● Spices & Herbs

Household items

● Kimono - A T-shaped Japanese robe that is folded in the front, worn all ages and genders with many different styles.

● Kotatsu - A special low table with a futon blanket on top and a heater underneath it to warm your feet with friends in the winter.

● Futon (Japanese beds) - Traditional Japanese homes use futons to sleep on at night, then fold away to conserve space during the day.

○ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE2t6kQIaiU ● Tatami - Braided floor mat made from straw ● Shoes at home - Japanese people remove shoes before entering the home.

Japanese children

- Very independent - Japanese schools - School uniforms - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7YrN8Q2PDU

Science / nature topics

● Bullet train ● Volcanoes ● Mt fuji ● Cherry blossoms (Sakura) ● Ikebana ● Bonsai ● Japanese spring festival ● Japanese gardens

Animals

● Snow monkeys / Macaques ● Deer ● Tanuki ● Wild boar

Language Art

- Calligraphy: Kanji, hiragana, katakana - Haiku - Japanese folklore (Momotaro, Urashima-Taro, the Tongue-Cut Sparrow, the

Crane Wife, Sadako and 1000 Paper Cranes) Music

- Traditional instruments: - Shamisen - Shakuhachi - Koto - Taiko

- Songs in the Japanese Heritage Songbook

Virtual/ Field Trip

1. Visit the Japanese house at the Children’s museum 2. Google Cardboard Japan

Work/ activity ideas 1. Food tasting and preparation: make and taste simple sushi with bamboo rolling

mat, white rice, seaweed wrap, avocado and cream cheese or cucumber!

Bamboo rolling mat:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009P82LHS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009P82LHS&linkCode=as2&tag=smarteparte-20&linkId=B33DB3BBJYPOPDEL 2 .Melissa and Dough sushi bento box

https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Personalized-Slicing-Wooden/dp/B074DWBKWH/ref=asc_df_B074DWBKWH/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312136329058&hvpos=1o8&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4270985161843557340&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002028&hvtargid=pla-623115748207&psc=1 3. Chopsticks transferring work Use child-friendly training chopsticks: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081JTP9QS/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B081JTP9QS&pd_rd_w=2Kg7I&pf_rd_p=45a72588-80f7-4414-9851-786f6c16d42b&pd_rd_wg=Ho6QP&pf_rd_r=84T9VX4HAMX60GQ3XW24&pd_rd_r=e60b2be4-4baa-4116-8df8-85b04a7c2316&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyTU9FWEIxTkg4QkU3JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTI0NjEzRVo0NVNIUUJXS0hVJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3MDc4MTNLT0o1MFJENUtPSVYmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

4. Japanese doll- Dramatic play

https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-GEISHA-Oriental-Doll-ZS1017-12/dp/B001M5YX9G/ref=pd_sbs_201_3/143-1596145-5627704?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B001M5YX9G&pd_rd_r=ad85122b-593c-4696-a8b7-75eac5da108b&pd_rd_w=8s7Oa&pd_rd_wg=kxpzV&pf_rd_p=5873ae95-9063-4a23-9b7e-eafa738c2269&pf_rd_r=DH7M5AWSXCD7HHESZWHS&psc=1&refRID=DH7M5AWSXCD7HHESZWHS 5. Japanese Zen garden raking Materials:

https://www.amazon.com/BangBangDa-Mini-Garden-Rake-Tool/dp/B07T3F4TB7/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Japanese+spoons&qid=1575398547&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-2

6. Flag cutting and pasting (two ways) 7. Map tracing 8. Japanese character tracing - Writing your name in Japanese

9. Japanese cherry blossom tree- use sticky tac, tissue paper, twisted butcher or brown paper (children can do this). Fold square cut out of tissues into diamonds, put together and make cherry blossom flower.

10. Cherry blossom painting

11.

12. 13. Japanese GYOTAKU fish printing Art

14. Origami

14. Japanese wood-block printing (Ukiyo-e)