Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Introduce Japan to school-aged students around the world through this site. It is divided into several different portions for exploring, beginning with Explore Japan (scroll down to Learn) which contains maps, calendars, and basic facts about Japan. Learn about popular culture in the Play portion where information is presented about biggest fads in Japan, virtual culture to try out online, games, and quizzes. Another interesting part of the site is the Explore section to discover different aspects of the country from climate to housing and government. Find out about Japanese schools, cities, and young artists in the Try box that offers information and virtual visits to different areas of the country. This site is viewable in seven different languages.

tag(s): cross cultural understanding (178), japan (62), virtual field trips (132)

This unique site by Multicultural Canada is part of a digitization project that aims to tell the stories of the cultures that make up Canada. Other modules include Chinese, Japanese, Scottish, Indonesian, Italian, Jewish, Vietnamese,and Pakistan collections are included in the learning modules. Detailed lesson plans, related resources, with rubrics are included. IN this module, Simon Fraser University shares their collection of Wayang Kulit, or shadow puppetry from Indonesia. Wayang Kulit often portrays moral or political messages. The university featured the exhibit, Crossing Oceans, Crossing Cultures, which includes the shadow puppets and stories about good and evil, respect, duty, friendship, and loyalty. The website shows some of the Wayang Kulit shadow puppets, as well as providing information on traditional stories. Photographs of several intricate shadow puppets are included. Ideas for projects using a variety of free downloads are suggested. There is also an introductory video.
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tag(s): canada (25), myths and legends (42), readers theater (12), stories and storytelling (63)

Find out what happened on any date in history with this informative site. Each event is listed with a short description. Historic events are listed chronologically from oldest to current times. (Some dates are several pages long, be sure to click the "read more" link to continue to newer dates.) Information includes birthdays, discoveries, events, and more. Searches by specific years, months, and famous birthdays. You are able to add events and comments. Note that the general public can also add comments, so preview before projecting in class!
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tag(s): calendars (37), timelines (57)

This online tool lets you create a timeline of an individual's life using dates from 1000 AD to the present year. Enter the person's name and dates, add events (historic or personal) and their beginning/ending dates, and click the "generate" button.

tag(s): timelines (57)

Take your students on a virtual tour of Japan with this beautifully designed site that investigates Japanese culture from a kid's perspective. It's easy to navigate and filled with easy-to-understand text, pictures, and interactive surprises. Complete a virtual origami airplane, compose a tune on the koto, and learn to say some basic everyday phrases in Japanese. Though some of the features require Flash, there is SO much to see and do on this site, it's worth a visit. Provide some direction for your students before turning them loose.

tag(s): cultures (226), japan (62), japanese (54)

Fans of this Japanese poetry form will find fascinating samples and other haiku trivia at this on-line journal.

tag(s): japan (62), japanese (54), poetry (195)

Developed by the National Japanese American Historical Society, this page is a well-organized meta-list of lessons relating to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. The lessons include material for all grade levels, and they address the historical, literary, and constitutional aspects of these Americans' experiences. Today's students can learn much from this experience.

tag(s): constitution (99), japan (62), japanese (54), world war 2 (163)

Part of the National Park Service "Teaching with Historic Places" series, this site uses the Manzanar Japanese-American internment camp as a starting point for an exploration of the internment activities that took place during World War II. As with other lessons in this series, the lesson asks students to interpret archival photos and draw conclusions from the images and contemporary accounts of the internment.

tag(s): japan (62), japanese (54), world war 2 (163)

This lesson from the National Park Service series "Teaching with Historic Places" outlines the background for the outbreak of the war with Japan and uses maps and historical photos to teach about the battle of Midway and the island's strategic importance in World War II. This site could be a nice add-on to a study of World War II, Japan, or the geography of the Pacific region.

tag(s): world war 2 (163)

Part of a far larger site, this section offers lots of instructions on the basics of origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. There are examples galore, along with information on terminology, reading folding instructions, and sources for origami patterns. If you're looking for an art activity that requires very little equipment, try this one.

tag(s): japan (62), origami (15), paper folding (3)

The Smithsonian presents this nicely-designed site describing the internment and discrimination against Japanese Americans during World War II. Students can listen to an audio introduction which provides a summary of the events of the period, and sets the stage for the larger presentation. This one is well worth a visit.

tag(s): constitution (99), japan (62), japanese (54), world war 2 (163)

This page is devoted to the study of Japan in the 17th-19th centuries, during the Tokugawa Shogunate. It documents the cultural, political, and military history of the period in significant detail. Good resource for serious high school research, or for teachers who need background on the evolution of Japanese culture, especially regarding Japanese reactions to Western influence.

tag(s): 1800s (75), japan (62)

Special features: bilingual - This site has info on the Prime Minister of Japan. It includes his reports, speeches, policies, press conferences, budgets, etc. It also contains statistical information on Japan which may be useful. One interesting area is the opinion section.

tag(s): japan (62), statistics (120)

This Japanese site offers a collection of classical Japanese artwork, suitable for study as part of an exposure to Japanese history. The interface isn't the greatest, and the images contain watermarks, but the site works fine as an example of the unique nature of Japanese artistic representations.

tag(s): japan (62)

Though its focus is by no means entirely on World War II, that war was no doubt the most trying time for Japanese Americans. This site contains numerous resources on the experiences of Japanese Americans during the war, as well as other resources highlighting the accomplishments of Japanese Americans and their efforts to preserve their ethnic heritage.

tag(s): japan (62), japanese (54), world war 2 (163)

This site offers a wonderful list of X (formerly known as Twitter) feeds to consider if you are just starting out or if you are adding to your feed related to history. The list is categorized by General, Media, Eductors and Students, Departments and Publications, Military, Historical Tweets, and includes the X (Twitter) name with a link and a short description. Feeds include the Library of Congress, quotes and sayings from Thomas Jefferson, and HistoryDay (see what happened on this day in history), and many more.

tag(s): congress (39), history day (39), social media (50), social networking (61), twitter (13)