Konichiwa from 7th Grade Humanities!
Posted by Ariel Warshaw
7th grade Humanities students explored Japan through a cultural study of the island nation. After considering its geographic features, and the impact of geography on its culture, we enjoyed an overview of Japanese language, art, food, and religious practices. The students were inspired by the concept of wabi-sabi, or embracing the beauty of imperfection, impermanence, and the natural cycle of life.
We continued our study of Japan by exploring elements of the culture through experiential learning. Students learned about origami, and practiced folding paper cranes and other objects. Both 7th and 8th grade students are participating in a peace crane exchange with a school in Argentina, and so we folded cranes that had messages of peace for the recipients. In addition, some smaller cranes will be sent to Hiroshima this summer, where they will be gifted to help mark 80 years since the dropping of the atomic bomb.
Seventh graders also learned about onigawara, or traditional Japanese roof tiles and the role they play in the architecture and lore of the region. We got to make our own onigawara out of clay! Students also learned more about Buddhist and Shinto practices, and partook in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
Finally, the students learned about waka poetry – traditional Japanese poetry that was the precursor to the haiku. Its metre follows a 5-7-5-7-7 structure. In many Shinto shrines, “omikuji” can be found. The visitor is randomly assigned a number (“kuji”), and that number corresponds to a sacred amulet or saying (“omi”) that they can keep. After learning about the prolific waka writing of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, and the use of their poems as omikuji at Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo, the students wrote their own waka poems.
Together, we created a “wakakuji” – or waka poem lottery – for the school community. Simply roll the 20 sided die, and take a student-created waka from the corresponding drawer. The hope is that the waka resonates with you in some way. This “wakakuji” will be available to use outside of Ms. Lauer’s office for the next week, and then will live in Ms. Warshaw’s classroom.
Our 7th graders loved the hands-on exploration of Japanese culture, and we can’t wait to receive our paper cranes from our Argentinian penpals in the coming weeks!
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