The Japan Forum > Click Nippon > Class Ideas

Students learn about “Ko So A Do Gurun”, a place where disabled children gather, and think of the importance of places like this for the local community. The article mentions “the happiness of doing something for someone”. Students will share their own experiences of this type of happiness in class.

Students will read the interview with a male childcare worker and reflect on attitudes regarding gender roles and how they are changing in Japan. Students will also discuss about the changes in gender roles in the learner's country and the merit of gender-equal society.

Study the importance of preparing ourselves in case of disaster, especially storing emergency food, which leads to a discussion of what we can do to protect ourselves. Then, by studying some simple recipes, learn about some examples of traditional Japanese dried ingredients. Compare these with ingredients familiar to students, then have students create their own recipes for emergencies.

Using visual resources and text about recycling art and artist, students will learn about creative recycling. By making recycle art and learning the concept of Mottainai, students think about what they can do for the environment.

Read the interview article of the LINE stamp creator, and explore the meanings of stamps used in SNS and their roles in communication. Then create your own stamps to express your feelings.

Students will read a short text about setsubun and experience activities such as mamemaki. They also have opportunities to make an oni mask, sing songs and discuss their own cultural events.

Students will read the interview article of Mr Nomura, who blogs about vending machines in Japan. They will also make a comparison with those in their own country, and discuss the reasons why there are so many in Japan, then reflect on what that says about Japanese society.

Students will read an article of Mr Okuyama who work at an aquarium and learn about communication between people and dolphins. By reflecting on their own relationship with animals, students will explore humans’ relationship with animals as well as the natural environment.

Students will read the article of Shimon-chu, a local idol group, and research Shimon-chu’s local area. Students will have an opportunity to reflect on their own local area and culture. Creative tasks include acting out an interview with Shimon-chu and designing a costume for a local idol group.

Students will study the words of the poet who experienced the great Tohoku disaster in 2011, and will reflect on the power of words.

Students will read the article of a stationary designer, and explore the culture and meaning of personalizing stationary and other items as well as making handmade items.

Students will read the interview article of Ms Yoshido, a communication stylist, and learn about the Japanese spirit of omotenashi. Students also reflect on their own culture of hospitality and think about the feelings and spirit behind these actions.

Mikio Ikeda is an athlete who is training hard for the Paralympics. Students will read the text and watch the video of his training, and learn Mikio’s disability, challenges, dreams and goals. Using their knowledge about Mikio, students will participate in a hot seating activity to gain deeper levels of understanding of the text.

1) Discuss your thoughts based on the article about the track and field athlete.
2) Discuss and express your thoughts to your friends after reading the article.

1) Read articles on idols regarding self-realization together with your friends and discuss your thoughts and understandings.
2) Convey orally and in simple sentences how to proactively self-realize your feelings towards your favorite idol.

By reading an article of a father who makes Kyara-Ben, students will learn about Kyara-Ben as a Japanese food culture and understand what he wants to express through making them. Students will also design their own Kyara-Ben and explain their thoughts for each item. The recipes of Kyara-Ben are available to expand the lesson to cross curricular learning.

Students read the text written by a female high school student, and learn about the Japanese way of celebrating Valentine’s Day and how it has changed over time. Students will then expand the topic to discuss gift-giving topics such as hand-made gifts and wrapping as aspect of Japanese culture. Students will also have an opportunity to explain, in Japanese, about how they celebrate Valentine’s Day.