Journey Through Japan Classical Conversations Cycle 1

While studying Japan we did a journey through Japan event.  I used this activity guide from Teachers Pay Teachers for part of the activities.  I also found several Japanese folk tales from the library.  We read a folk tale, looked at the geography of Japan, and items we use that come from Japan.  We also made Japanese fans out of coffee filters and Popsicle sticks.

I was fortunate to learn some traditional Japanese dances from a Hawaiian music teacher.  We learned two Japanese dances.  One was called Tanko Bushi (the coal miners song), and the other was a dance from the Japanese Bon festival.  We practiced the dances first.  Then each child took a large white t-shirt and decorated it so it looked like a kimono.  After they decorated their kimonos I gave them fabric to wrap around the middle as a sash.  Once we were dressed and ready we performed our dances in our outfits!

For a snack we ate rice crispy/Swedish fish sushi, marshmallows, and banana slices with chopsticks.