Globalization is blurring the lines between once clearly defined groups of people, making cultural sensitivity more important than ever. Culturally sensitive art education can cultivate the ability for students to empathize with and care about others, but until now, few guidelines have existed to help art educators bring together those from…

This paper describes the experience of a Brazilian art teacher who relocated to Japan to teach. The paper focuses on the teacher's experience with Brazilian manners, Japanese culture, and art. It reports on her teaching experiences, such as her general aims in teaching, her recollections of several adult Venezuelan and Japanese female students,…

Describes an art activity for third-grade students where they create their own Japanese clay dolls complete with kimonos and obies after learning about Japanese culture and the importance of kimonos. Discusses the process of making the dolls and kimonos in detail. (CMK)

Presents an art activity for fifth- and sixth-grade students in which they create "netsuke," a small sculptural art used in Japan to convey social ideals. Includes background information about netsuke, the categories of netsuke, and the use of creative and critical thinking. (CMK)

Presents an interdisciplinary approach combining geography and children's literature to teach about Japanese culture. Describes classroom activities that link the Five Fundamental Themes of Geography to literature and art. Includes 11 figures, 9 summaries of children's books about Japan, and a 15-item annotated bibliography. (CFR)

This paper examines art, a discipline that bears striking parallels, and differences, in the way it is practiced and valued in the United States and Japan. In Japan, art is a valued part of the elementary curriculum warranting as much time as science and social studies. In the United States, art is generally thought of as something extra to do if…

Discusses an international art exchange project designed to teach fifth-grade students that the culture of a country is reflected in its art and that art is a universal language. Describes the contributions from Scotland, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Japan, and India. Points out ways to use materials in schools. (KO)

Describes art education in elementary schools in Japan and the content of their art textbooks. Maintains that the challenges of developing skills, making choices, and learning about the artistic heritage that are offered to Japanese children also should be offered to U.S. children. (KM)

Nature is a key element in Japanese culture and is central to Japanese aesthetics. This teacher resource packet, which includes an audiotape and 20 color slides with a descriptive script and comprehensive lesson guide, employs the theme of seasons while examining art in Japanese culture. The packet is designed to be used by general classroom…

The course of study for students in elementary schools in Japan is outlined in this document. The first of four chapters puts forth general guidelines that a Japanese elementary school should seek to follow. Comprising the greater part of the document, the second chapter outlines the objectives to be achieved by students in eight subjects. For…