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Ancient Empires: Japan

In this 4-week course, students will explore Japanese geography, samurai, ninjas, and medieval Japanese culture. #academic
Jacob K
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(235)
Class

What's included

4 live meetings
3 hrs 20 mins in-class hours
Homework
1 hour per week. Students will complete primary source document analysis activities based on what is covered in each class.
Assessment
Students will complete formative assessments throughout the duration of the course. Students will be evaluated on comprehension via a summative assessment.
Grading
Letter grades by request

Class Experience

US Grade 4 - 7
Beginner Level
Dive into the rich history and vibrant traditions of Ancient and Medieval Japan in this engaging class! Perfect for students curious about Japanese history and culture, this course provides an in-depth look at the fascinating era of feudal Japan.

Students will uncover the geography of Japan and its influence on early civilizations like the Jomon and Yamato. We'll explore the roles of the emperor, shogun, daimyo, samurai, ronin, and the mysterious ninja, while learning about martial arts such as ju-jitsu, karate, and judo.

This interactive class also delves into the spiritual traditions of Shintoism and Zen Buddhism and introduces students to iconic elements of Japanese culture, including haiku poetry, woodblock printing, sumo wrestling, and more.

With a PowerPoint presentation and a guided notes packet, students will gain a thorough understanding of Japan’s feudal system and cultural heritage.

This course is designed to be mostly a PowerPoint presentation with some videos that are relevant to the topic.  Students will review what they learned in the previous lesson, then transition to the new content, and the class will end with a comprehension check to ensure students understand the new material. All students will need to have a functional camera and microphone as class discussions are an essential component of the course. Students will be provided with a guided note worksheet in aPDFf format to meet each student’s needs. During the final class, students will review what they have learned by completing an interactive Kahoot game.   

Students do not need any prior knowledge about Japan to get the most out of this class!

Learning Goals

1. I can describe Japan's geography
2. I can describe the basics of Japanese culture
3. I can identify a feudal pyramid
4. I can explain how the levels of the feudal pyramid interrelate 
5. I can explain the importance of the samurai to Japan's history
learning goal

Syllabus

Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
Standards
Aligned with National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (NCSS)
4 Lessons
over 4 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Japanese Geography and Early History
 - Geography of Japan
- Yamato Dynasty
- Buddhism, Daoism, writing, architecture
- Confucianism
- Chinese Influences 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Feudal Japan (Samurai and Ninjas!)
 - Heian Period
- Social Structure
- Bushido Code
- Shintoism
- Zen Buddhism 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Medieval Japanese Culture
 - Art
- Food
- Martial Arts
- Sumo Wrestling 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Medieval Japan Kahoot Game
 Review the course materials and complete the course assessment 
50 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Supply List
All materials will be supplied by the teacher.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
  • Kahoot
Joined November, 2020
5.0
235reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Ohio Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Bachelor's Degree in Education from The University of Akron
I have been a middle/high school Social Studies teacher for the last four years. I currently hold a 7-12 Social Studies teaching license in the state of Ohio and a Bachelor of Arts in History. I have covered Japanese history with my students over the past three years, and have refined these lessons to be very engaging and impactful.

Reviews

Live Group Course
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$18

weekly
1x per week, 4 weeks
50 min

Completed by 68 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-16
1-5 learners per class

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