Walker School Hosts "Japanese Immersion Day"

Walker school students in Grades K-5 have been learning about Japan throughout the 2012-13 school year as part of an International Awareness Program sponsored by the school’s Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) and led by Media Resource Center Director Michelle Woodring. 

Students began their discovery of Japan with a whole-class discussion of prior knowledge of Japan and created questions noting what they were interested in learning about the country. The following lesson began with a brief informative video from Discovery Streaming on Japan and the Japanese culture. Students then used Google Earth to explore where Japan was located and to discover terrain and landmarks, such as Tokyo Tower and Mt. Fuji. Fifth graders researched the conflict between China and Japan over the Senkaku islands. Third and fourth graders participated in interest-based research, ranging from current technologies to earthquakes and volcanoes. Third graders also learned how to create an iMovie teaching others how to count 1-5 in the Japanese language.

In an assembly sponsored by the PTO on March 20, students watched a Taiko Drum performance. The culminating activity, Japan Immersion Day, was held March 22. Students experienced elements of the Japanese culture through rotating stations of activities. Music teacher Jaime Sciaccotta led a traditional and modern dance lesson. Students wrote haiku poetry and created art pieces including paper lanterns and carp paintings. Students also learned the historical importance of origami and participated in a martial arts study in collaboration with a local studio.

Woodring notes, “All of the activities we have done this year, culminating with Immersion Day, were designed to broaden students' understanding of the Japanese culture and ignite further curiosity about the country and the people. The day’s lessons have been an excellent example of integrating many subjects into one focus – reading, writing, art, music, physical education. Immersion Day showed students how their knowledge can be connected an interdisciplinary way that also makes for a fun day of learning.” Last year was the first for the International Awareness Program; the focus country was Italy. The country for next year has not been determined yet, Woodring says, but will likely not be in either Europe or Asia so that a different continent is first considered.

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Caption (1): Walker School student Miette Morris creates a carp painting during the school’s Japanese Immersion Day.

Caption (2): Taekwondo Master Patti Barnum and Walker School student Clare Moore demonstrate a technique for breaking the hold of a possible kidnapper during the school’s Japanese Immersion Day.