The underlining goal of the Wellesley Public School social studies curriculum is to enable students to
become active, responsible citizens. The two units taught in second grade are meant to build
children's images and understandings of how people make meaning of their environment and live
their daily lives.
THE PURPOSE OF OUR STUDY OF JAPAN is to help children understand: 1) families in Japan and
the United States are similar in many ways; 2) Japan is a country with modern technology and ancient
traditions; 3) the Japanese culture values nature, beauty, family and simplicity; 4) geography
influences the way of life in Japan; and 5) Japanese people work together to solve problems.
The three guiding questions for this study are:
1) How are Japanese children and families similar to you and your family?
2) How do the Japanese honor the past in their everyday lives?
3) What problems have the Japanese people solved?
Skills that students will acquire through this study:
locate the four main islands and major geographical features of Japan
understand the similarity of Japan's climate with that of the east coast of the U.S.
use strategies for reading fiction & nonfiction to understand Japan now and long ago
use books, videos, photographs, and the Internet to obtain information
realize that multiple perspectives are necessary in order to have a more accurate view of people
and cultures
express personal conclusions both orally and in writing
During this unit, students will explore the geography, population and climate of Japan. One of the
early activities is to make a playdough map of Japan and the surrounding countries with miniature
flags of the countries and candies to represent various geographical features such as mountains and
capital cities. Through books, photos, videos, and Internet students learn about life for people in
Japan including: families, schools, jobs, food, transportation, homes, manners, structures, holidays,
arts, traditions, city-life and country-life. We talk about similarities between American and Japanese
life styles and about overcoming generalizations. For homework, students will look for items at
home that were manufactured in Japan (and elsewhere). In connection to this unit, we read & discuss
many Japanese folktales in Reading Workshop. We also read haiku, and children experiment with
writing their own haiku during Poetry Workshop.
SPECIAL RELATED PROGRAMS:
Motoko, Japanese storyteller: http://www.motoko.folktales.net/index.html
Thanks to the support of the Creative Arts Committee, the second grades are visited by this
wonderful Japanese storyteller each year. Motoko teaches students common phrases and to count in
Japanese. She tells children about life in Japan, showing them the map and photos of her family life
in that country. Then she mesmerizes the children with her delightful folktales, and she leaves them
with a gift of a Japanese game or craft that they can do at home.
RELATED CLASS FIELD TRIP:
Fuji Steakhouse: 1430 Highland Ave., Needham (Tel: 781-726-7658)
Our class will enjoy a traditional Japanese lunch prepared artfully by the chefs at Fuji's Teppanyaki
tables. Our delicious meal includes miso soup, salad, hibachi chicken, grilled vegetables, and rice. A
highlight for the children each year is an erupting Mt. Fuji created by the chefs from a stack of
onions. Children also enjoy seeing Japanese artwork and clothing on the walls and golden carp in a
decorative pond inside the restaurant.
RELATED FAMILY OUTING POSSIBILITIES:
Boston Children's Museum: 300 Congress Street, Boston (Tel: 617-426-6500)
One of the many interesting exhibits at the Boston Children's Museum is an authentic two-story silk
merchants home from Kyoto, Japan. This fully equipped Japanese house was shipped to Boston and
reconstructed inside the Children's Museum by Japanese carpenters. Visitors can walk down the
"street," take off their shoes, and step into this traditional Japanese home. As you explore every
corner of this fully functional 100-year-old house, you will discover a lot about Japanese family life,
customs, ceremonies, art, and architecture. Monthly activities offer seasonal experiences in daily life
now and long ago.
Yama Japanese Restaurant: 245 Washington Street, Wellesley (Tel: 781-431-8886)
This restaurant is too small to accommodate our whole class for lunch, but children might enjoy
sitting at a traditional Japanese table with their family for a delicious Japanese meal at this local
restaurant. Children will see traditional kimonos and Japanese artwork here as well.
