Grade 8 - Understanding Culture and Society

This sub-organizer contains the following sections:
Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
Recommended Learning Resources

PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is expected that students will:

demonstrate awareness of characteristics relating to Japanese customs and traditions
compare Japanese culture with their own cultures
demonstrate an understanding of Japanese cultural contributions to Canada

To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Understanding Culture and Society in other grades click on an icon below.

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

Students explore the customs and traditions of Japan to increase their understanding of both Japanese and their own cultures. They are encouraged to use Japanese vocabulary related to these traditions.

Suggest that students in groups research Japanese crafts (e.g., origami, ohinasama, koinobori ) and traditions (e.g., the tea ceremony), using print and video resources or by interviewing members of the Japanese community. Ask students to determine how these customs are related to Japanese festivals. Have groups present their information to the class. Encourage each group to demonstrate for the class a craft related to a Japanese festival.
Have students in pairs locate and collect information to compare Japanese and Canadian school systems. Students then write short reports and design posters highlighting the similarities.
Ask students to work with partners to research the characteristics of the traditional Japanese feudal system (e.g., samurai , castles, ninja ). Encourage students to discuss how factors such as status, gender, and age affect social behaviour.
Bring to class some unfamiliar Japanese objects. Ask students to brainstorm possible uses for these objects and compare them with their Canadian equivalents.
Ask students to invite a person of Japanese heritage to speak to the class about Japanese culture and its contributions to Canada. Before the visit, encourage students to prepare questions for the guest. Have a group of students introduce the guest to the class. Students could use information from the talk to add to a display depicting Japanese cultural contributions to Canadian life.
Form small groups and have them research the cultural significance of daruma . Suggest that students create their own daruma , drawing in one eye to set study goals. Record all goals for later discussion and completion of individual daruma.

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

Assessment focusses on students' abilities to describe Japanese customs and traditions, identify similarities with other cultures, demonstrate openness, and indicate a growing appreciation of Japanese contributions to Canada.

Have students use Venn diagrams to compare their own school traditions with those of Japanese schools, then list two conclusions or key observations. Look for evidence that students are aware of the role of traditions and customs in their own school lives and are able to identify similarities between them and those in Japan.
After showing a documentary or reading a story set in Japan, invite students to imagine themselves in the setting and write postcards home telling what is happening and how they are responding. Look for evidence that students:
- are able to project themselves into characters or events
- notice cultural elements
- are curious about customs and traditions
When students research and report on topics such as the Japanese feudal system, look for evidence that they:
- locate and share accurate information
- provide interesting and relevant details
- make connections to previous knowledge about Japanese customs and traditions
- use key vocabulary correctly (e.g., samurai )
- make connections to other cultures (e.g., British or French feudal systems)
From time to time, review students' records for evidence of increasing knowledge of and appreciation for Japanese culture. Provide students with opportunities to review and self-assess their records, using prompts such as:
- Two similarities between my culture and Japanese culture that surprised me were _____________ .
- Something I've noticed about many Japanese customs and traditions is _____________ .
- Some of my ideas about Japanese culture, customs, and traditions that have changed because of what I've learned are _____________ .
- Some questions I have about Japanese culture, customs, and traditions include _____________ .

RECOMMENDED LEARNING RESOURCES

Print Materials

"Body" Language
Chopsticks! An Owner's Manual
Eating in Japan
Everyday Japanese
Festivals of Japan
Haiku
In Japan
Japanese - An Appetizer
A Look Into Japan

Multimedia

Kimono
Niko Niko

CD-ROM

Exotic Japan

Revised: January 26, 1999

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