Cherry blossoms are considered a symbol of spring in Japan and when the trees are covered in beautiful pink blossoms, people gather together for picnics underneath them, in a tradition known as O Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing). In this lesson, students will learn about the customs and activities associated with O Hanami and compose haiku poems using their own thoughts about spring and nature. The topic can also be used as a starting point for studying climate change and shifting seasons, as the cherry blossom season has arrived early in recent years. Also included is an PDF Activity Pack which can be printed out and used by students independently or during extracurricular activities such as Japan club. An editable version of the PPTs are available on request - contact education@japansociety.org.uk. More resources related to Japanese culture are available from The Japan Society website.

The Japan Project is a multi-lesson unit designed to give KS1 and KS2 students a cross-curricular introduction to Japan. The unit includes lessons on Japan’s location, physical geography, climate, and wildlife and covers aspects of the Science, Art & Design, Computing and Geography curricula. It is intended to be taught whole, however individual lessons may also be used as standalone resources. An editable version of the PPTs are available on request - contact education@japansociety.org.uk. More resources related to Japanese culture are available from The Japan Society website.

As well as a creative artform, origami can be a source of practical mathematics. The lesson is designed to encourage students to apply some mathematical concepts and problem solving to origami. Students will learn about an aspect of Japanese culture as they make three simple models to explore angles and lengths, fractions, and more! A presentation and instructions are included. Resources are available for both Upper KS2 or Lower KS3. An editable version of the PPTs are available on request - contact education@japansociety.org.uk. More resources related to Japanese culture are available from The Japan Society website.

In this lesson, KS1 or KS2 students will learn about some features of urban and rural areas and their similarities and differences by looking at Japan. They can compare areas of Japan to their local area, or other places. Japan is often portrayed as a metropolis full of people, bright lights and noise, but much of Japan is covered in forest and mountains and there are many small towns and villages as well as bustling cities. Our video A Trip to the Japanese Countryside shows students this quieter side of Japan. The accompanying materials include images of both rural and urban Japan for students to sort and compare as well as a lesson plan. An editable version of the PPTs are available on request - contact education@japansociety.org.uk. More resources related to Japanese culture are available from The Japan Society website.

In this lesson, KS2 pupils will learn about what life is like at a typical elementary school in Japan. Some aspects of Japanese school life are unique, and not seen in many other places in the world. For example, everyday after lunch or at the end of the school day, children clean and tidy their classrooms and around the corridors and hallways. Another unique aspect is that children serve each other their school dinners at lunch time, and eat together in the classroom! Pupils will learn more about these unique aspects within this lesson. But whilst there are certainly unique aspects, there are also many aspects that are similar to a typical British primary school too. Pupils will compare the similarities and differences by creating a comparison chart, and evaluate what they like and dislike about these aspects of Japanese school life. This resource pack contains a PowerPoint presentation, worksheets and extension activities, as well as background notes for teachers who may wish to learn more about what Japanese elementary schools are like before teaching the lesson. An editable version of the PPT is available on request - please contact us at education@japansociety.org.uk if you are interested.