Japan for Kids and Teachers Illustration

Japan for Kids and Teachers

Feudal Japan Lesson Plans & Activities

In the Japanese feudal system, the emperor was at the top, followed by the Shoguns, samurai, and then the peasants.

Feudal Japan: Samurai, Peasant, Artisan, Merchant (Donn)

Japan (Mr. Roughton) - 3 week unit, Samurai, sumos, ninjas, poetry. Designed to follow or combine with a unit on China to better draw distinctions between them.

Shogun

The power of the Shoguns lasted for more than 250 years. Achievement: The Shoguns opened new trade routes to Europe. 

Daimyo, Samurai

The Samurai were highly respected, well trained warriors.
The Daimyo was the ruler of the Samurai.
The Bushido was the Code of the Samurai,
which demanded honor and loyalty.

A Day as a Teenage Samurai

Haiku

Haiku Poetry - with examples and lesson plan (Donn)

Haiku activities: The Shiki site

Haiku - Poetry of the Samurai Warrior

Eno Period: 1600-1867

Eno Period - Virtual Tour

Ukiyo-e

Rise of Merchant Class in Eno Period (lesson)

Jim Breen's Ukiyo Gallery

General Lesson Plans & Activities

Free Presentations about Japan

Daruma Dolls

The fake egg

Tanka activities: A modern travel journal

Manga activities

Kana, Hiragana

Kana - Japanese characters

Hiragana (images, gif files)

Karigami & Origami

Origami (arrived in 6th century Japan from China)

Origami Paper Airplanes

Toys  Games  Kites  Fans

Daruma Dolls (Myth, List of Lessons)

Interactive Games

Japan coloring pages to print out

Japanese Religion & Philosophy

Shinto is Japan’s main religion,
and teaches that everything in nature is filled with spirits.
Buddhism is Japan's second main religion.
Zen Buddhism
teaches spiritual discipline.

Buddhism (Donn)

Learning module - Shinto, Buddhism, Christianity

For Kids

World Trivia Japan (game)

The Japanese myth of the trickster raccoon (animated, video)

Japanese Folktale - The Selfish Scholar (animated, Ted-Ed)

Daruma Dolls (Donn)