By viewing approximately two dozen Japanese television commercials, secondary students enrolled in an area studies course about Japan were able to generate tones and impressions reflecting many important experiences of the Japanese society that the course would later explore in more detail. The introductory lesson was very successful. (RM)

Discusses how the global approach can be used to teach about Japanese culture in elementary and secondary social studies classes. Students compare and contrast Japanese and American cultures. Methods for helping students to become familiar with aspects of Japanese culture are included. (AM)

A study of Japanese ways of coping with pollution, urbanization, and industrialization offers an opportunity for the social studies student to gain intercultural perspectives on the continuing problems of a modernizing society. Three perspectives on ways of coping are presented to illustrate the concept. (Author/JH)

This is an age of ascendency of the Pacific Rim area, especially the Asian sector. Recent decades have seen unprecedented economic growth throughout this area. By examining Japan, the region's pre-eminent nation and harbinger of future developments, the larger topic of the Pacific Rim can be explored. It is particularly important to teach about…

This ERIC Digest discusses how, by studying Japan, the larger context of the Asia-Pacific region can be explored and students can be introduced to current realities. The top 5 competitive countries for 1994 were the United States, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, and Germany. Because of the increasing interdependence between the United States and…

Designed to assist social studies teachers, this resource guide provides a selected sample of current materials and resources available for teaching about East Asia. While sources on China, Japan, and Korea are emphasized, many of the materials also include information on South and Southeast Asia. Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of…

This study assessed the extent to which information about Japan is taught in secondary world history classrooms in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. The sample used for this study was 475 world history teachers, randomly selected, in K-12 school districts scattered across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. A 21-item questionnaire was mailed to each of…

Describes one teacher's experience teaching English in Japan, and the effect of this experience on his current teaching style in an American high school. Notes that he now injects Japanese culture into class discussion and frequently compares and contrasts English literature, language and cultural history with that of Japanese. (JG)

This project introduces a syllabus for studying comparative politics among Canada, Pakistan, and Japan. Students learn that comparative politics provides an understanding of how different political systems operate and the importance of culture in understanding politics. Three functions are addressed in the course: system functions, process…

This collection of supplementary lessons about Japan is organized into four sections: writing skills; visual arts; games, music, and other arts; and social studies. Each lesson lists appropriate grade level, objective, materials needed, time required, and procedure. The following titles from each section are representative of the lessons: Writing…

This document is a compilation of 30 lesson plans for teaching about Japan in elementary grades. Produced by "Japan Alumni," North American classroom teachers who became acquainted with Japanese society through a program of travel/study fellowships, the lessons are divided into the following categories: motivational activities, land and…

Provides a model lesson from the book "Science/Technology/Society: Model Lessons for Secondary Social Studies Classes." Outlines Japan's campaign in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to rid itself of guns and return to swords. Provides background information and student handouts. (RW)

This curriculum guide is designed to assist teachers and supervisors in the implementation of the New York State Global Studies syllabus. The materials presented in this guide represent suggested approaches for teaching the unit on East Asia-Japan. The themes addressed are: the physical/historical setting, the dynamics of change, contemporary…

This collection of essays presents a rationale for incorporating teaching about Japan in the K-12 curriculum. The volume provides practical examples and guidelines about how to achieve this goal. The essays are organized into three main categories--professional development, curriculum design and enhancement, and exchange. The essays include:…

This publication is a guide for teachers using "The Changing World Today," an intermediate-grade student text which examines cultural change in Japan, Kenya, and India. A major portion of the guide consists of a summary outline of the text. Discussed in the outline are descriptive characteristics, rationale, antecedent conditions,…