Japanese

Once again it is set to be an exciting term in the Japanese classroom.  Children have already begun the term with a lot of confidence and are participating with a lot of enjoyment.

Here is a brief outline of what each of the levels will be focussing on:

The Prep children will be exploring the colours of the rainbow in Japanese. The children will be engaged in some individual and group art activities based around colours, and they will be using the Interactive Whiteboard to correctly match the Japanese names for the different colours.  We are also learning a song from the Michio Teaches Japanese CD-ROM which is all about how we mix the primary colours to make new colours.  We will also look at the role that colour plays in keeping us safe.

Some of the Prep children enjoying their Kimono dress-up day in Term 3 this year.

The Year 1/2 children will be continuing to explore the topic of food.  Children will continue building on their Japanese vocabulary for different Japanese and Western foods, and will learn how to write sentences about eating with the help of the Interactive Whiteboard.  We will be exploring how eating customs in Japan differ to Western countries, like Australia.  In the coming weeks we will all have a go at using chopsticks, or Hashi, as they are called in Japanese.  And we’ll look at some of the etiquette involved in eating with chop sticks and Japanese table manners in general.  Itadakimasu!

Some of the children from 1H show their Kudamono (Fruit) posters from Term 3.

To compliment their enquiry topic of “Let Me Entertain You”, the Year 3/4 children will take a look at a couple of very traditional forms of entertainment from Japan: Noh and Kabuki theatre.  The children will then have a go at creating some face masks, inspired by the Noh style masks and the face make-up used in Kabuki.  They will then use the masks to act out one of the Japanese folk tales that they looked at earlier in the year.  In addition, the Year 3 & 4 children will continue to consolidate their Hiragana knowledge this term.

Some of the children from 3N and 3D sharing their Tomodachi posters.

The Year 5/6 children will explore Japan’s contribution to the world of innovation and design.  Students might research some of the most successful Japanese innovations (think the “Sony Walkman” and what it did for portable audio players), as well as some of the more “wacky” Japanese inventions, as we explore whether all inventions become marketable, and how designers know when they are successful.  The children will also have a go at designing their own “weird and wonderful” invention, with a marketing campaign to go with it.  In addition, the Year 5 & 6 children will continue to consolidate their Hiragana knowledge this term.

Some of the Year 5 and 6 children sharing their Sadako and the Thousand Paper Crane projects from Term 3.

I have been very impressed with the level of work being produced in each class across the school and look forward to another great term!