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.

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.

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.

Introduce students to the two main religions in Japan, Shinto and Buddhism and the places of worship associated with them - shrines and temples - using our short video and accompanying resources. The video gives a short tour of a shrine and temple, allowing students to see common features of both. The presentation has more pictures, facts and tasks to support a longer lesson about religion in Japan. Templates and worksheets are also provided so students can design ema wish boards and write omikuji fortunes. 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.

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.

Learn about the Children’s Festival, celebrated on May 5th in Japan. On this day, called kodomo no hi in Japanese, families pray for the health and happiness of their children. Included is a Powerpoint presentation, short video, lesson plan, and activities including origami instructions to make a samurai helmet and a koi nobori flag template to make a decoration for the festival. Also included is a PDF Activity Pack which is suitable for students to use independently or during extracurricular activities such as Japan club as well as an original story, Swim, Swim, Koinobori. 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.

Hina-matsuri is a Japanese festival to celebrate the health and happiness of girls and is celebrated every March. Learn how it is celebrated and link compare it to other festivals around the world, including International Women’s Day. Included is a Powerpoint presentation, lesson plan, and activities including: origami instructions, kanji writing exercise, and simple quiz. Also included is a 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 Setsubun festival marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring and is celebrated annually in Japan on 3 February. This lesson gives students the chance to learn how children in Japan celebrate the arrival of spring. Included is a Powerpoint presentation, lesson plan, and activities including: a Japanese vocabulary challenge, true or false quiz, an oni (demon) mask template. Also included is a 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.

New Year is the most important holiday in the Japanese calendar and celebrations are very different to those in the UK. This lesson introduces the festival’s main foods, decorations, customs and vocabulary to KS2. Teachers will find background notes, a PPT with images to inspire students and a comprehensive lesson plan and activity materials. Also included is a PDF Activity Pack (containing information and tasks, kanji writing practice and a traditional game) 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.

This booklet contains ideas for educators wishing to introduce haiku poetry. Students of all ages can write a haiku outside and there are printable worksheets to act as a guide. The booklet was made by haiku poet Paul Conneally and contains information about haiku and their key features, as well as tasks for students to identify different the elements and seasons of haiku (suitable for KS2 and above). As well as a creative exercise, haiku can be used to introduce mindfulness and as a way to reflect on the world around us. The Japan Society are also accepting entries to the 17th World Children’s Haiku Contest until 28 February 2022. More resources related to Japanese culture are available from The Japan Society website.

This short unit (3 lessons) introduces haiku to KS3 students through the theme of journeys. Poetry is often about journeys, both literal and metaphorical, and studying haiku is a simple way to help students connect to their surroundings and produce personal and creative work. Haiku are a part of Japanese culture sometimes mistakenly taught as just a three-line, 5-7-5 syllable poems. This unit aims to give students the real essence of haiku as they work on core literacy skills. Why not also enter the World Children’s Haiku Contest, which is accepting entries until Feb 28 2022. For more details see The Japan Society website.

The 7-5-3 Festival (Shichi-Go-San 七五三) is an annual celebration held on November 15 to celebrate the health of children aged 3, 5, and 7. This resource contains a presentation, lesson plan, and activity pack and templates to teach children about the customs and traditions associated with the festival. Students will learn why the ages of 3, 5, and 7 were important milestones for Japanese children in the past, about traditional Japanese clothes worn for the festival, and make and decorate a ‘chitose ame’ sweet bag - which children receive during the celebrations. This standalone lesson can be used at any time to teach about Japanese culture to KS2. 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.

Soroban, the Japanese abacus, provides a visual and tangible tool which helps students with place value and understanding the decimal system. It can be used to: practice number bonds; show why we carry/exchange numbers; consolidate arithmetic skills; and improve concentration. This 5 lesson unit of work introduces KS1/KS2 students to the soroban; in addition to the above they will learn how to read numbers of any size and to perform simple calculations. The Japan Society has [soroban loans] available for schools to borrow (free of charge, postage costs may apply) to support the teaching of this unit. 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.

This lesson brings Japanese culture into the maths classroom, allowing students to learn about the history and significance of three Japanese patterns (ichimatsu, uroko, and kikko) as they explore the properties of shapes and draw their own tessellations. Designed for Upper KS2 and Lower KS3, the lesson introduces the concept of polygons and can be easily adapted by focusing on the tasks most suited to your students’ level. Extension activity ideas are also included. 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.

This lesson about Otsukimi, the Japanese Moon Viewing festival, can be used to teach KS2 about Japanese culture, the harvest moon, and the diversity of beliefs and stories about the moon around the world. The PPT includes information about the customs and traditions associated with Ostukimi and an illustrated version of The Rabbit on the Moon story. There is also a version of the story with key vocabulary in Japanese for those wishing to teach Japanese language. After listening to the story, students will recall key locations, characters, and events in the story and summarise them on their own story plate. Also included is a PDF Activity Pack (containing origami rabbit instructions and a kanji practice worksheet) 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.

Teach and draw Manga in the art classroom with KS3 students. Manga (comics or graphic novels) are a Japanese form of visual storytelling which are increasingly popular outside of Japan. Over the course of two lessons, students receive an introduction to the history and cultural significance of Manga in Japan and as an art form and will also create their own character, illustrated in the Manga style. There are accompanying video interviews with contemporary Manga artists and basic face and expression templates for students. Comprehensive background notes are included for teachers so the lessons can be taught with no prior knowledge. 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.

These 6 lesson plans (with PPTs and activities) aim to promote positive mental and physical health and wellbeing to KS2 pupils through the exploration of Japanese culture. Following an introduction to wellbeing, pupils consider each of the NHS ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ (Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning, Take Notice and Give) and complete activities based on Japanese culture which promote physical health as well as emotional wellbeing (e.g. radio taiso exercises and mindfulness through manga drawing). By the end of the unit, students should be able to consider how each of the ways can improve wellbeing and will have learnt of some events, customs and celebrations in Japan. Prior knowledge of Japanese culture or language is not needed. 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.

Explore Japan’s human and physical geography with the KS3 Geography of Japan unit of work. Students are introduced to key features of Japanese geography including volcanoes, wildlife, natural disasters, climate population density and more whilst building core geographical skills. The scheme can be taught over seven or eight lessons (two lessons covering the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami can be condensed into one if preferred). The materials are pitched at Year 7 and Year 8 classes and include optional ‘challenge tasks’; tasks could be adapted or differentiated for other age groups. 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.

These resources can help boost KS2 children’s cultural awareness as they learn about Obon, one of the most important annual festivals in Japan. The festival is based on the Buddhist belief that the spirits of ancestors return to their family home at this time of year. The PPT, lesson plan, accompanying videos, and craft activities can be used in the classroom to teach about the customs and traditions associated with Obon and about summer festivals in general in Japan. During the lesson, students will put the activities associated with Obon in order, answer a true or false quiz, make a simple paper lantern and also learn Japanese vocabulary associated with the festival. 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.

This PDF Activity Pack for KS2 children contains fun facts and information about the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo as well as a quiz, kanji writing practice, useful Japanese phrases and a mascot design competition! Students can work through the pack independently or specific pages can be printed out for group activities. The pack can be used on its own or to complement other sports or Olympic related lessons; see the Japan Society’s Sports Day Pack or Sports Quiz for additional resources. Entries to the mascot design competition are being accepted until 5 September 2021, which can be found on The Japan Society Website along with more resources related to Japanese culture.