Social StudiesSocial StudiesComparing Japan and ChinaComparing Japan and China

By: Leslie SingletonBy: Leslie SingletonAndAnd

Amanda TesarzAmanda Tesarz

Grade Level: Second GradeGrade Level: Second Grade

Lesson:Lesson:

Comparing and Contrasting Comparing and Contrasting two important Asian two important Asian nations:nations:

China and China and JapanJapan

ObjectivesObjectives

1.1. Introduce Introduce Japanese and Japanese and Chinese Chinese culture and culture and geographygeography

2.2. Compare and Compare and contrast contrast geographical geographical and cultural and cultural characteristicharacteristics of Japan cs of Japan and Chinaand China

Materials Needed:Materials Needed:

• World Map World Map • EncyclopediasEncyclopedias• Various books on China And JapanVarious books on China And Japan• Food samples from China and Food samples from China and JapanJapan

• Various items to represent China Various items to represent China and Japan (example: kimonos, and Japan (example: kimonos, origami samples, chopsticks, origami samples, chopsticks, Japanese and Chinese toys)Japanese and Chinese toys)

Web SitesWeb Sites

1. Enchanted Learning www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/2. Asia for Elementary Students and Teachers www.aasianst.org/EAA/gleaningswinter99.htm3. Ask Asia http://www.askasia.org/for_educators/fe_frame.htm4. What’s Cool in Japan http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/archives/cool/index.html5. Global School Network www.gsn.org

Maps of China Maps of China and Japanand Japan

Characteristics of ChinaCharacteristics of China

• Capital: BeijingCapital: Beijing• Size: 9,596,960 square Size: 9,596,960 square kilometerskilometers

• Population: 1,261,832,482 Population: 1,261,832,482 (as of July, 2000)(as of July, 2000)

• CHINA HAS THE LARGEST CHINA HAS THE LARGEST POPULATION OF ANY COUNTRY IN POPULATION OF ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!!THE WORLD!!!

• Climate: Ranges from desert Climate: Ranges from desert to tropical subarcticto tropical subarctic

Characteristics of China, Characteristics of China, Cont.Cont.

• Major Rivers: the Yangtse Major Rivers: the Yangtse River, the Yellow River, and River, the Yellow River, and the Pearl Riverthe Pearl River

• Mountain Ranges: the Ch’ang-Mountain Ranges: the Ch’ang-pai Mountains, the Tsinling pai Mountains, the Tsinling Mountains, and the Nan range Mountains, and the Nan range (also: the Himalayas boarder (also: the Himalayas boarder China)China)

• Transportation: Because China Transportation: Because China is so heavily populated , many is so heavily populated , many people use bicycles instead of people use bicycles instead of cars for transportationcars for transportation

Chinese InventionsChinese Inventions

• ChopsticksChopsticks• PaperPaper• Block printing Block printing • CompassCompass• GunpowderGunpowder• KitesKites• InkInk

Characteristics of Characteristics of JapanJapan

• Capital: TokyoCapital: Tokyo• Size: 378,000 square Size: 378,000 square kilometerskilometers

• Population: 125 million Population: 125 million (making it the world’s (making it the world’s eighth most populous eighth most populous nation)nation)

• Climate: most of Japan is Climate: most of Japan is in the Temperate Zone and in the Temperate Zone and has a humid monsoon has a humid monsoon climateclimate

Characteristics of Japan, Characteristics of Japan, Cont.Cont.

• Location: Japan lies on the Location: Japan lies on the western edge of the Pacific western edge of the Pacific Ocean and east of the Ocean and east of the Eurasian continent. It Eurasian continent. It consists of several thousand consists of several thousand islands and islets. islands and islets.

• Traditional dress: the Traditional dress: the kimono (although it is now kimono (although it is now usually worn for special usually worn for special occasions, such as weddings occasions, such as weddings and during New Year)and during New Year)

The UmbrellaThe Umbrella

• The Chinese introduced The Chinese introduced the umbrella to the the umbrella to the Japanese almost 2,000 Japanese almost 2,000 years ago. The umbrella years ago. The umbrella was made out of oiled was made out of oiled paper and bamboo. The paper and bamboo. The Chinese called the Chinese called the umbrella “karakasas.” umbrella “karakasas.” They are still handmade. They are still handmade. They were used to keep They were used to keep the rain off their silk the rain off their silk robes and to keep the robes and to keep the sun off their faces. sun off their faces.

ChopsticksChopsticks

• No one knows when chopsticks No one knows when chopsticks were first used, but they were were first used, but they were first invented in China. first invented in China. Chopsticks can be traced back as Chopsticks can be traced back as far as the third century B.C. far as the third century B.C. Chopsticks are used in Japan, Chopsticks are used in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and China. Korea, Vietnam, and China. Chopsticks are most often made Chopsticks are most often made of bamboo, but the Emperor and of bamboo, but the Emperor and Emperoress’ s chopsticks are Emperoress’ s chopsticks are made of ivory, because ivory made of ivory, because ivory turns colors if the food has turns colors if the food has poison in it.poison in it.

FoodFood

• Both Chinese and Japanese eat Both Chinese and Japanese eat with chopsticks.with chopsticks.

• Rice is an extremely important Rice is an extremely important part of the Chinese and Japanese part of the Chinese and Japanese diets. diets.

• In addition to rice, both like In addition to rice, both like bread and noodles and a wide bread and noodles and a wide array of meats, fishes, array of meats, fishes, vegetables, and fruits.vegetables, and fruits.

LanguageLanguage

• A long time ago, Japan borrowed A long time ago, Japan borrowed Chinese characters, and they’re Chinese characters, and they’re still extensively used in Japanese still extensively used in Japanese writing.writing.

• Japanese names (people and places) Japanese names (people and places) are written in Chinese with the are written in Chinese with the same characters that are used in same characters that are used in Japanese. However, the Japanese. However, the pronunciations are often completely pronunciations are often completely different. For instance different. For instance Nihon(Japan) is Riben, Tokyo is Nihon(Japan) is Riben, Tokyo is Dongjing, and Osaka is Daban.Dongjing, and Osaka is Daban.

Japanese and Chinese Japanese and Chinese NumbersNumbers

Chinese and Japanese numbers are Chinese and Japanese numbers are written the same, but pronounced written the same, but pronounced differently. Here are the numbers differently. Here are the numbers

one through ten:one through ten:

One Two Three Four Five

Six Seven Eight Nine Ten

Activities for the Activities for the Classroom:Classroom:

1.1. Lead the students through Lead the students through a step-by-step instruction a step-by-step instruction on writing Japanese on writing Japanese numbers one through ten.numbers one through ten.

2.2. Bring in samples of Bring in samples of Japanese and Chinese food Japanese and Chinese food for the students to taste.for the students to taste.

3.3. Make a Venn diagram with Make a Venn diagram with the students to compare the students to compare and contrast Japan and and contrast Japan and China.China.

Activities for the Activities for the Classroom, Cont.Classroom, Cont.

4.4. Have students make Have students make individual banners individual banners celebrating the Chinese celebrating the Chinese and Japanese New Year.and Japanese New Year.

5.5. Allow the students to Allow the students to select a favorite book select a favorite book about China or Japan and about China or Japan and illustrate the cover or illustrate the cover or favorite part of book.favorite part of book.