Mini Asian Folding Screens and Haiku Poem Lesson

 Lesson coming soon!

 

Kimono Art Lesson

We started the class by reading Suki's Kimono. I used the projector and camera so all the students could see the pictures and follow the story. I asked them some questions about the story, like who gave Suki her Kimono, why was it special, etc. 

I then explained to them the parts of the Kimono, the fact that I was wearing my Kimono helped!

Kimono from CaramelBun

The students then followed my instructions and drew their kimono outlines. I record myself drawing, then play it back and stop after each step so the students follow. We have a program that lets us remotely control the computer using the iPad, it's called Doceri. That way I can walk around and help and keep an eye on everyone. 

This is the video I recorded for my students. Then I instructed them to add patterns inside the Kimonos. They were drawing with markers, no pencils in my clasroom!

The last couple of minutes we danced "Under the big chestnut tree" since Suki shared a dance with her class. I showed them the moves before, and explained the lyrics, then we danced with the song.

Under the big chestnut tree,

you and me,

are playing happily. 

For the next class, they colored everything on their papers, starting with the pattern, then the kimono and last the background. We danced some more at the end of class.

Torii Gate Art Lesson

Visit All about Torii Gates for more awesome pictures

Torii Gates are found in Japan to identify the entrance to sacred places. Since I made a Torii gate out of paper in my class room I thought it would  be fun to have a lesson so students would understand what it is.

Torii gate in my classroom.

I started the lesson with this presentation, discussing the importance of Torii Gates and where they are found. Students observed and commented on the appearance, colors, etc. 

Torii gates from CaramelBun

Students were very interested in the Torii Gate from Miyajima Island so I found a video that tours the island temple.

With all the information learned, and the images in their minds I showed students how to build a mini Torii Gate out of craft sticks. Each student needs 4. When they were done, we left them on the side to dry and started the mountain and the temple. The stairs were a bit tricky, but most of them got them right. I then let them add details to their landscape. Some asked if Godzilla was Japanese, so they added him to the drawing. Others remembered cherry blossom trees and added those, while others wanted to do a sea to imitate the Miyajima Torii Gate in the water.

Next class, they colored the Torii Gates since they were dry, and they were careful to only use colors real Torii Gates have: red/red-orange, brown (wood) or gray (stone). Once their drawings were colored, and their Torii gates dry and colored they glued them to the paper.

Some classes didn't have time to create a craft stick Torii Gate, so I showed them how to draw one instead.