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)

Illustrates a way social studies teachers can use translation exercises to teach about a geographic region. Uses translations of haiku poetry for this purpose. Students perceive and translate a haiku differently thus experiencing firsthand a fundamental objective of social studies which is understanding differences in perspectives. (GG)