WebQuest:
Set Up a Samurai Training
School
Samurai Kids 1: White Crane Text © 2008 Sandy Fussell Illustrations © 2008 Rhian Nest James Reproduced by permission of Walker Books Ltd, London SE11 5HJ
1. Introduction
Niya teases Sensei and says he might start his own ryu training school.
The bath is filled with cool mountain spring water. I sink until, like a frog, only my eyes are visible. Fear of failure floats away with the mud. There is nothing wrong with being a frog. Maybe, when I am Sensei, I will build the Frog Ryu.
‘Maybe you will,’ the wizard says inside my head. ‘But now it is time to hop out and let someone else bathe.’ (chapt. 11 p. 105)
Your task is to help Niya set up the Frog Ryu by becoming one of the teachers.
2. Task Your team must find out about samurai training – what did the students learn, how did they learn, what equipment did they need?
Each team member will assume one of the following roles:
• Archery Teacher• Wrestling Teacher• Haiku Teacher• Zen Master• Ikebana Instructor• Music Master• Sword Master• Origami Master
One person may teach more than one subject.
Unfortunately you won’t get paid. The samurai teacher was considered invaluable so a price could not be put on his/her services. However, your students might bring you offerings.
3. Process 1.Choose one or more roles
• Archery Teacher• Wrestling Teacher• Haiku Teacher• Zen Master• Ikebana Instructor• Music Teacher• Sword Master• Origami Teacher
2.Click on your role (listed above) to see which websites you will be visiting to research your new job
3.Prepare a report on what you will be teaching, and how you will teach it.
4.Prepare an exam of 5 questions to test your students’ knowledge.
5.The team’s reports and exam paper will form the new Frog Ryu teaching program.
The Calligraphy Teacher Sample report
Japanese calligraphy is called shodo, ‘the way of writing’. It is considered an art.
The strokes of the characters have to be done in strict order. Straight lines should be strong and clear, and curving lines should be delicate and mobile. The shape and position of the characters drawn, the gradation of the ink, and the force of the brushstrokes are all important.
Kanji is one of the three character sets. Traditionally, kanji are written in vertical columns from the right to the left side of the page. Calligraphy is signed with a red seal – the artist’s name.
Calligraphy is best taught in the classroom where there is a stable flat surface. The materials needed are a black mat, a bamboo and animal hair brush (fude), black ink, special paper (washi) and a metal weight to hold the paper down.
The ink, called sumi, comes from charcoal sticks which must be rubbed with water on an inkstone until the right consistency is achieved.
The Calligraphy Teacher
Sample Exam
1.What is the Japanese name for calligraphy?
2.In what direction is calligraphy written?
3.How many character sets are there?
4.What materials are needed?
5.Where does the ink come from?
The Archery Teacher
The archery teacher will visit:
Samurai Longbow
Samurai Arrows
Wikipedia – Yabusame archery
Kids Web Japan – Yabasume & Kyudo
How Stuff Works: Samurai: Training for Life and War (excellent picture)
Mounted Samurai Archers in Japan today (recreation with photos)
The Wrestling Teacher The wrestling teacher will visit
Jujitsu (samurai unarmed combat)
Wikipedia – Jujitsu
You Tube – samurai and jujitsu
The Haiku Teacher The Haiku teacher will visit
Wikipedia - haiku
Haiku and poems by samurai
Haiku – A definition
Matsuo Basho – famous samurai haiku poet
Haiku – ‘how to’ especially for kids
The Zen Master The Zen Master will visit
Samurai and Zen
Wikipedia - Zen
Wikipedia – koans
A list of popular Zen koans
David Suzuki – the man who brought Zen to the West (Japan Times article 2006)
The Ikebana Instructor The Ikebana Instructor will visit
Wikipedia – ikebana
Kids Web Japan – Ikebana
The Basic Styles
Japan Lifestyle – Picture Gallery
The Music Teacher The Music Teacher will visit
Wikipedia – the koto
Wikipedia – the shamizen
Wikipedia – the taiko drum
Riley Lee – Australian Grand Master of the shakuhachi flute (listen to samples)
The Sword Master The Sword Master will visit
Samurai katana
Samurai Sword making
Samurai Sword Facts
Castles of Japan Thinkquest
War, warfare & Weapons in medieval Japan
How Stuff Works: Samurai: Training for Life and War (excellent picture)
The Origami Teacher The Origami Teacher will visit
Wikipedia – Origami
Kids Web Japan – origami overview
Easy origami
History of Origami
Joseph Wu – Origami Master (visit the gallery)
4. EvaluationSimple evaluation.
Max Points
Self Assess
Teacher Assess
Research
Thoroughly researched topic 10
Effectively used technology 10
Collaboration
Worked well as a team member 10
Presentation
Neat and edited 10
Accurate 10
Submitted on time 10
Identified equipment needed (rpt) 10
Produced teaching scenario (rpt) 10
Created exam test 10
Demonstrated solid knowledge of topic 10
100
5. Conclusion
Congratulations.
You have not only helped Niya establish the Frog Ryu, but learned some interesting information about samurai training.