5  Feudal Japan

JAPANESE FOOD DAY, coming soon!   

Click here to view what parents have already signed up to bring!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XA9B5up24zfbh-W0nzyqepG-rBRa-cXo4-TqyKzuX7g/edit?usp=sharing        SEE PICTURES OF OUR CLASSROOM FOOD STATIONS AT THE WELCOME PARENT INFO PAGE, LINK AT THE LEFT.  SCROLL DOWN TO BOTTOM OF PARENT PAGE!

This unit will include the geography of Japan's chain of islands and its dependence upon the sea for food  (think sushi!!!).    We will be learning about Japan during the medieval (feudal) era, and how much feudal Japan and it's samurai resembled Europe and it's knights.  Both lands had a king or emperor, both lands had peasants, both had knights (samurai), and both had lords (shogun) whom they served.   Both knights and samurai lived by a code of honor ("chivalry for the knights,  "bushido" for the samurai), which included years of strict training and a restricted lifestyle).   What a coincidence!    We will try our hand at Japanese poetry (3-line poems called"haiku" , as well as calligraphy, and origami.   In teams, you will also make tri-fold posters about different aspects of medieval Japanese life. (see downloadable instructions and rubrics below/end of webpage)

Books you can read about medieval Japan

1.)      Taiko:  An Epic Novel of War and Glory in feudal Japan by Eiji Yoshikawa

2.)      Secrets of the Samurai:  The Martial Arts of Feudal Japan by Oscar Ratti

 Learn how to fold paper origami at http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-duck-face.html

Play online math games like "sodoku" or this nonogram at http://www.sapphiregames.com/online/nonogram.php

 Play an online (non-educational) game called "Autumn Samurai", at  http://armorgames.com/play/14258/samurai-autumn

Websites about Japan for kids at   http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/

  http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/japan   and

http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/0252-japan.php

YouTube link about Bunraku puppetry:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV938f46Wpg

YouTube link about Noh theater:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T5RqW8TWWY

YouTube link about Kabuki theater:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3IHdm2Tf8g

  Discussion Question:   How was Japan able to flourish as such a "pure" culture for so long, without invasion from other cultural influences?

Map of Feudal Japan