Overview
The folktale recounted in this unit is titled Momotaro, the Peach Boy. It is illustrated with line art depicting scenes from the title character's life, including a climactic battle with ogres. It is a fun and fanciful story sure to hold your students' attention, as they begin their education in Japanese culture and family life. Complete follow up instructions and suggestions focus on traditional Japanese clothing and food, as well as the landscape of rural Japan, and help students produce their own picture book of the story. Cut-out characters and a story mat are included.This unit also helps children learn subjects as varied as language, math and art with activities tied to a variety of Japanese cultural subjects, including: Kanji, the ancient Japanese "picture words;" a Gomoku board game; Tanabata, the Star Festival; Writing Haiku; How to Make a Fish Kite; How to Eat with Chopsticks; and Practicing on a Soroban. Another such activity, Make an Origami Samurai, comes with nine precise steps of folding directions. There are also pages devoted to Japanese food and dress, plus the Flag of Japan, a Map of Japan, and a glossary of terms. Activities are always begun with a paragraph of Cultural Background and a Preparation list, followed by complete, step-by-step instructions. All pages are reproducible and perforated for easy removal.The folktale recounted in this unit is titled Momotaro, the Peach Boy. It is illustrated with line art depicting scenes from the title character's life, including a climactic battle with ogres. It is a fun and fanciful story sure to hold your students' attention, as they begin their education in Japanese culture and family life.
Learn about thepeoples of the world through their literature, music, food, art, games, and language. To insure the authenticity of these books, Betsy Franco conducted extensive interviews with people from each country.
Each book starts with the re-telling of a folktale from the country being studied. It is wonderfully illustrated and can even be reproduced. Next is a folktale follow-up. These discussion starters enable children to discover some of the unique aspects and customs of the culture. Then, a portion of the story that lends itself to chanting has been rendered on pocket chart strips. Activities for using the pocket strips to build language are suggested. You get a reproducible story mat and haracters that can be used by studnets to re-tell the story. Finally, we have included around 24 pages of activities relating to the story. The activities include cooking, music, math, creative writing, science, and even a bit of foreign language. Also included is a bibliography of children's literature and a glossary of foreign language terms and a pronunciation key. Each book starts with the re-telling of a Folktale from the country being studied. It is wonderfully illustrated and can even be reproduced. Next is a Folktale Follow-up. These discussion starters enable children to discover some of the unique aspects and customs of the culture. Then, a section of Pocket Chart Strips and Activities. A portion of the story that lends itself to chanting has been rendered on pocket chart strips. Whole language suggestions are included. You get a reproducible Story Mat and Characters used by the children to re-tell or act-out the story. Finally, we have included around 24 pages of Reproducible Activities relating to the story. The activities include cooking, music, math, creative writing, science, and even a bit of foreign language. Also included is a bibliography of children's literature and a glossary of foreign language terms and a pronunciation key.