Introduction
こんにちは - Konnichiwa - Hello!
Now that you have brushed up on your hiragana, it is time to put it to good use, the old fashioned way!
Ever wondered what it would be like to live and go to school in Japan?
Do you think somewhere in Japan there is a student thinking the same thing about Australia?
While you are wondering what it is like to live in Japan, over 7,900 kilometres away is a student just like you wondering what it is like to live here in Australia.
Would you like an opportunity to share our culture and exchange this information with a Japanese friend?
Task
Our class quest is to create a pen-friend introduction package to be sent to another group of students in Japan
Following the instructions on the process page, activities will be completed in four seperate groups and using the materials and resources provided.
Each student will also create their own postcard reflecting what we have already learnt about Japanese culture and language.
Ideas, help and important tips can be found in the range of books, literature and websites listed in the Process page under each relevant activity. The task will be completed throughout the next three weeks.
Process
Lets Get Creating- ぶんし作成
There will be four group activities randomly selected and assigned to each table. Depending on your group number, follow the process below. Each group will make a presentation to the class of their contribution to our pen-friend introduction package that will be sent to our Japanese school. Each group member will also need to complete the Individual activity listed on the bottom of the page.
Group One “OUR SCHOOL”
Your quest is to create a video clip introducing our new Japanese friends to our school environment. Using the resources below to obtain tips and ideas.
1. Research and discuss ideas as to what to include in the video
2. Create a story board and/or script
3. Assign jobs to group members - e.g. Camera-operator, Interviewer, Editor etc
4. Create video
5. Edit
6. Get ready to present and post!
RESOURCES:
School Year Books located in Classroom
Cardboard, paper, markers and ipads with access to the iMovie app.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BW5ck5yxb0U8bP54lRjNqarDSGSp2GM1QaMtMQksOJk/edit?pref=2&pli=1
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheStoryGuide
http://www.onlinevideo.net/2012/03/get-great-results-from-smartphone-video-cameras-video-101/
http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Storyboard
Group Two “BEST OF AUSTRALIA”
Your quest is to create a presentation (in the format of your choice) providing first-hand experience to the Best of Australia to our new Japanese friends. Topics could include food, animals, places etc. Using the resources below to research your topics.
1. Discuss ideas
2. Assign research jobs
3. Complete research
4. Choose your presentation format
5. Create your presentation
6. Get ready to present and post!
RESOURCES:
Range of Library books about Australia located in Classroom
Cardboard, paper, markers and laptops.
http://www.goodfood.com.au/eat-out/best-of/top-10-iconic-australian-foods-20160125-gm8zqj.html
http://panique.com.au/trishansoz/animals/australia-animals.html
http://www.australiangeographic.com.
au/topics/wildlife/2013/03/australias-dangerous-animals-the-top-30/
Group Three “TRAVEL BROCHURE”
Your quest is to create an informative travel brochure for visiting Australia, showing our Japenese friends what is a 'must see' when visiting our country. Using the resources below to research ideas and information.
1. Discuss ideas
2. Assign research jobs
3. Complete research and gather information
4. Gather relevant pictures
5. Create an eye-catching brochure
6. Get ready to present and post!
RESOURCES:
Range of Travel Brochures located in Classroom
Cardboard, paper, markers and laptops.
http://www.australiantraveller.com
http://greatwalksofaustralia.com.au/about/best-of-australia/
http://www.funkidslive.com/learn/penguin-explorers/make-travel-brochure/
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Travel-Brochure
Group Four “DREAMTIME”
Your quest is to present a relevant Aboriginal Dreamtime story and artwork to acknowledge our original owners of our great land to our Japanese friends. Using the resources below to research stories and art work.
1. Discuss ideas
2. Assign research jobs
3. Complete research
4. Choose your presentation format
5. Create your presentation
6. Get ready to present and post!
RESOURCES:
Range of library books located in Classroom
Cardboard, paper, markers, paint and ipads.
http://aboriginalart.com.au/culture/dreamtime2.html
http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/culture/dreamtim.php
http://www.aboriginalstories.org.au/aboriginal-storytelling/
Individual Activity “POSTCARD”
Each group member also needs to create their own postcard. Now we have provided our new Japanese friends with information about us and Australia, its time to show them what we have learnt about their beautiful country, Japan.
1. Using your recently developed Japanese artists skills, design the front of your card with the resources provided.
Resources:
Cardboard, paper, markers, coloured pencils and ipads.
http://thecraftyclassroom.com/crafts/japan-crafts-for-kids/
https://au.pinterest.com/rosiebird1234/japanese-art-and-teaching-ideas/
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/japan-crafts
http://www.dragoart.com/anime-manga-c173-1.htm
2. Make sure you include some Japanese phrases. Some useful websites:
http://www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/hiragana.htm
http://japanesetransliteration.com
http://www.textfugu.com/resources/hiragana-chart/
http://en.bab.la/dictionary/english-japanese/hiragana
3. The back of the card can include hiragana writing, along with english. It should tell your new friend some things about yourself, like name, age, grade, favourite games or sports. Don’t forget to include something that you have learnt about Japan, their culture or language. Some useful websites:
http://uncustomary.org/50-things-to-tell-your-penpal/
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Letter-to-Your-Penpal
4. More tips and ideas on writing letters. Some useful websites:
https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/how-to-write-letters-in-japanese/
http://penpallingandletters.blogspot.com.au/p/tips-to-write-letters.html
5. Extension (Optional)
Want to go a step further and make a good impression on your new friend. Try some of these origami handmade envelopes and decorate with some Aussie flair! Some useful websites:
http://www.origami-instructions.com/easy-origami-envelope.html
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/learn-to-draw-aussie-animals
https://au.pinterest.com/noelenenaughton/drawing-australian-flowers/
Evaluation
|
Beginning - 1 Point |
Developing - 2 Points |
Very Good - 3 Points |
|
|
Groups followed directions and created their assigned pen-friend contributions |
Some directions followed, but little planning and/or detail provided |
The group completed most directions with a fair range of planning and detail observed. |
The group followed all directions and created a well-thought out contribution. |
|
Content / Creation |
The group included one to two pieces of relevant information with minimal detail. Content was presented in a basic format with little planning indicated. |
The group included up to four pieces of relevant information with good detail. Content was presented in an appropriate format with good planning and layout. |
The group included five or more pieces of relevant information with great detail. Content was presented in an engaging format with well thought out processing and planning. |
|
Presentation |
The group conducted their presentation, with little detail being discussed and not all group members participating. |
The group conducted their presentation, with good detail and explanation with most group members participating. |
The group conducted an interesting and relevant presentation with clear and great detail. All group members participated equally. |
|
Understanding of Cultures. |
The group showed a fair amount of understanding of the Australian and Japanese culture through their creations and presentation. |
The group showed a good amount of understanding of the Australian and Japanese culture through their creations and presentation. |
The group showed a great amount of understanding of the Australian and Japanese culture through their creations and presentation. |
Conclusion
ゑあ・だん - Well Done!
Now we are ready to post!
Through this quest, you have taken time to reflect and write about your own identity and Australian culture, whilst appreciating, comparing and exhibiting a cultural understanding of our new Japanese friends. Learning about other cultures helps improve our own communities social wellbeing. It also helps to develop an awareness and acceptance of the diversities that multicultural societies bring to our great land.
A final thought...
Do you feel you can gain a better concept of our own culture, by the knowledge and understanding of another culture?
What other cultures would you like to know more about?
Credits
Clip-art References:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/cultural/hj/img/shodo01.jpg - Japanese calligraphy
http://www.marketpulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/australia-japan-flag-puzzle.jpg - Flag Puzzle
http://worldartsme.com/images/teaching-japanese-languages-clipart-1.jpg - Teacher
http://worldartsme.com/images/post-mail-clipart-1.jpg - Mailbox
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VddYbEa3lvk/UkXc1pzjWBI/AAAAAAAARHg/KkGk3MVyzmU/s1600/iowa_pcb_1910.jpg - Postcard
http://clipart.coolclips.com/480/vectors/tf05309/CoolClips_vc062190.png - Travel brochure
http://www.clipartkid.com/images/9/school-high-school-building-classroom-clipart-Ucc5os-clipart.jpg - School
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TlEEHQTj-IU/VGWwkcw5bnI/AAAAAAAADjY/qj0Chz3VUig/s1600/antixa2014-australia_flag_map.jpg - Austalian Flag
https://t3.ftcdn.net/jpg/00/33/48/20/500_F_33482007_MCBftz6B0D5ZP0BlsP3yjeeEdsW1ah6n.jpg - Aboriginal Kangaroo
Quote: "To write is human, to receive a letter: Devine!" ― Susan Lendroth
Teacher Page
Subject Matter.
Created for a Stage 3 (Years 5 to 6) students.
In this lesson, students learn about another culture and its connection to their own cultural identity (CUS3.3). Students are provided with an opportunity to explore and investiagate our Australian and Indigenous culture, presenting it in an informative way, then exchanging this information with a class of Japanese students of similar grade. Students are also able to reflect and demonstrate their prior learning of the Japanese culture and language covered in previous lessons.
The activities enables students to experience a deeper understanding of the differences between cultures and provides students with opportunities of "Lifelong Learning:
❂ being curious and ready to participate in learning about people, society and environments;
❂ making connections between what one knows and what one is learning;
❂ appreciating the importance of lifelong learning in a constantly changing world." (BOSTES, HSIE K-6)