Japan - Grade 2 Resources

Japan
Resources for Grade 2 Teachers

Resources for Teachers - Local Resources

Children's Museum Social Studies Teaching Kits
Japan Culture Box
Although not local, these culture boxes from the Institute for Japanese Studies at Ohio State University look great! Free loan, but you must pay return postage. Check them out!
Children's Museum Japanese House
Japan Curriculum Map - Arlington
Created by Grade 2 Study Group - Summer of 2008
Note: Be sure to view full screen.
Japan Bibliography of Resources - Arlington
Created by Grade 2 Study Group - Summer of 2008
Primary Source
Click on Resources on top tabs.
Consulate General of Japan, Boston - School Visits
Review the offerings, then click here for a Visit Request Form.
Contact: Joshua Wilber for free school visits. Presenters bring toys, food, clothing and more.
Also see Lesson Plans at this site.
Discover Kamishibai - Traditional Japanese Story Cards
See also, Storycard Theater
Catalogs
Culture for Kids
Asia for Kids
Japan National Tourist Organization

Resources for Teachers - Lesson Plans and Theme Ideas

The Geography and Contemporary Culture of Japan
Unit written for Grade 2
Note: If the above link does not open to the document, click on Grade 2 and scroll down to the above title.
Japan Unit
The Unit
Content Map
National Symbols of Japan - Cherry Blossom
Includes fun fan making activity, along with fan template
Japanese Gardens
A brief overview of a second grade unit on Japan with many wonderful photos of Japanese gardens they created
Japan Theme Unit
from abcteach.com
Japan Theme K-3
from enchantedlearning.com
Japan Tab Book
Also from enchantedlearning.com - great introductory book for Japan
Japan Unit - Character Through the Arts
Includes a brief Reader's Theater - Japan, Land of the Rising Sun

Resources for Teachers - Kid-Friendly Websites

Time for Kids - Japan
Very good - don't miss A Day in the Life and the postcard
Kids Web Japan
Excellent background information - be sure to click on Calendar to learn about each month's holidays
Coins of the World - Japan
From the U.S. Mint, a slideshow about Japan written for children with a focus on Japan's coins.
Along the way the students will learn lots about the culture of Japan.
See this page for most common coins.
Scavenger Hunt about Japan (based on the slideshow above)
Answer Key for Scavenger Hunt
Japan for Kids
Some terrific resources - scroll down a bit on each page for some very helpful links
DLTK-Kids
Lots of kid friendly crafts about Japan
DLTK-Kids Japan Posters
From the above site, these are pages to print out and color with lots of Japanese symbols and icons. Pages are also available to be printed in color which would be perfect for bulletin boards.
Japanese Paper Dolls
Print-out and make Japanese boy and girl paper dolls.

Resources for Teachers - Links, Clipart and More

Japan Teaching Theme
from Teach-nology.com - many links, including maps
Japan Links for Grade 2
Many of the links are not working, but there are a few that are helpful
Kanji Land
These are the 160 kanji characters that are taught in grade 2 at Japanese schools.
Japanese Money
Japanese Colors
Japanese Clipart
Fundamental Needs of People - Montessori Model
View a slideshow of a student-created mural based on this concept here.