Japanese Arts & Crafts

こんばんは、

Lately, I've been thinking of many great ideas (as well as finding amazing ideas) for Japanese crafts for my little class. Because the age group that I work with can get so easily distracted, I thought it was best to include as many hands on activities as possible. I only get to teach Japanese once a week (which is NOT enough to teach a language/cultural concepts to ANY age group), it can be a challenge to be sure that your lessons have stuck. To counter that, I've make it a goal to end every session with an art activity.

In my last lesson, I actually didn't have an art activity planned and got called on it by one of the kids. "Are we doing some art today?" What I've learned with kids is that once you start something you're pretty much entitled to keep it up. Plus, I really do think that the kids like to take home their art projects and show it to their parents and share what they learned that day in Japanese Learning Adventures (JLA). Here why I find art important for Japanese language exploration:

1. The kids will most likely be super excited to do it--whatever it is. 
2. It will help re-enforce what you are teaching.
3. The kids will show their parents annnd... 
4. It will challenge them to repeat what they have heard (Japanese words, phrases, etc.) to their parents when they are asked.
5. It will help the kids have something to reference to as they dive deeper into the language and it sets a foundation to expand on for other topics. 
6. It's fun! 

Here are some of the art activities I've done with the kiddies so far.

Ninja Masks

One of my very first activities I had the kids do. It was a hit!

Most kids have heard of ninjas by this age. Thanks to Power Rangers and other Japanese-influened or orginating cartoons in the US, kids are more exposed to Japanese concepts maybe more so now than ever before. I know I was introduced to a lot from Japanese-y things broadcasted or released for kids when I was growing up.

Animal Origami

There were so many uses for these little kitty friends I had the kiddies make! 

I wanted an easy origami craft for the kids to learn, as well as myself. I haven't done much origami surprisingly and still cannot make a crane to this day, but this was easy for all of us.

Cherry Blossom Art 

Very easy, but very fun to do. 

Snacks optional. But it was for a very special day!

I was so excited to do this art project with the kids. I had been cutting out Sakura petals for over a week to make sure I had enough for all the kids who participated that day. 

Lateran Making 

This activity was tied to the second cherry blossom activity pictured above.

This activity was a week before a very special even that we had recently in spirit of Sakura season in Japan. I will be happy to talk more about this awesome day very soon. 

I have much more to share, but consider this a preview of some of my lessons and the arts and crafts that reinforce them!

じゃまった、

茶色