Name of Project: Japanese Calligraphy and Poem Lesson
Classroom, School: Expo Magnet School
Cooperating teacher: Ulla Tervodesnick
Grade Level: 1st and 2nd grade
Presenter's Name: Aki Shibata
Subject: Calligraphy and Creative Writing
Overview of Project
Students learn about calligraphy and a few Japanese/Chinese characters.
Students will practice different kinds of brush strokes with real Japanese words, and then
create original characters with a brush based on their favorite objects. After creating the
character, students will write a poem about their favorite thing.
Essential Question(s)
How can letter forms express meaning
Subsidiary Questions
What are Japanese/Chinese characters?
How are they used as writing? How are they different from Roman alphabet?
Assessment
At the end of this lesson, students will have presentation.
They will read their poems and introduce their original Japanese calligraphy characters.
Possibly, students' works would be displayed at the school hallway or community.
Students will:
- Understand different aspects of culture
- Learn other culture's writing system
- Develop small motor skills
- See calligraphy as art
- Feel the joy of creating their own characters
Materials
Calligraphy ink (Sumi Ink), Calligraphy brushes, Newspaper, Paper for calligraphy
(9x12"), Paper for poems (White office paper), Black heavyweight paper for display, and cups.
Procedures - Step by Step
- Talk about where I am from and the Japanese writing system.
- Explain this project with examples.
- Introduce a few Japanese characters and talk about relationship between characters and pictures.
- Show examples of how to hold and move brushes.
- Practice brush strokes with real Japanese characters on newspaper.
- Final characters on real Japanese paper.
- Let each student pick out an object to create an original character.
- Practice and create original characters on newspapers with ink.
- Final original character on Japanese paper.
- After the final calligraphy isfinished, gather students and ask them what they learned today.
- Show an example of poem.
- Write a poem about the object, which is used for making original character.
- Mount the calligraphy and poem on the same black paper. For first grader, I will mount them to present.
- Have a final presentation, have each student read own poem and talk about their original character.
- Display their work in the hallway.
