Part 1 of this lesson uses an inquiry-based approach: students analyze haiku to develop rules for writing a poem on their own. This story introduces Matsuo Bashō, the famous seventeenth-century traveling poet and provides highlights of several of his journeys. Grass Sandals: A Mini-Unit on Haiku and Brush Paintingfeatures Grass Sandals: The Travels of Basho (1997) by Dawnine Spivak. Students define loyalty through creative art and writing projects. In this lesson, students learn about a Tokyo commuter station and Japanese conceptions of loyalty and community. The Hachikō books are based on a true story that occurred in Tokyo in the twentieth century. Turner for primary instruction or Hachiko Waits (2004) by Lesléa Newman for intermediate instruction. Hachikō: A Loyal Doguses Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog (2004) by Pamela S. The suggested level for this lesson is grades 3-5. Students exchange tanka to communicate messages and participate in a poetry competition as court nobles did in the Heian period ( 794-1185 C.E.). In this lesson, students learn about and write tanka, an ancient Japanese poetic form. Poetry Talk features The Girl Who Loved Caterpillars (1992), a story adapted by Jean Merrill from a twelfth-century Japanese story entitled Tsutsumi Chūnagon Monogatari. Each of the six lessons features an authentic children’s literature book on an aspect of Japanese culture. The collection is designed to promote the teaching of cultural studies of Japan while developing students’ knowledge and skills in literacy and communication. The Texts and Contexts: Teaching Japan through Children’s Literature online curriculum is a collection of teacher-developed, standards-based, cross-curricular K-6 lessons.

Teaching Japan through Children's Literature

Tru story curriculum