Learning in LOTE: Japanese

LOTE: Japanese is sharing the learning taking place in their class…

PREP JAPANESE

Shichi – Go – San Celebration

This week, Prep students celebrated the 7-5-3 Festival which marks important milestones in the lives of Japanese children.  The festival is an opportunity for families to dress up and visit Shinto temples to pray for the healthy growth of their 7, 5 and 3-year-old children.  Children are given special gifts and blessings on the day, as well as Chitose Ame which is also known as thousand-year candy.  The candy is usually red and white and it's long, stretched appearance symbolises the hopes that these children will also live long, happy lives.

To celebrate the occasion, Prep students made special bags adorned with red handles and white cranes, reflecting our wishes for their good luck and success in the future.  They were most excited to receive a special treat in their Chitose Ame bags at the end of the day.

Happy Shichi – Go – San for November 15th everyone!

YEAR 1 & 2 JAPANESE

Japanese Dragons

In Year One and Two LOTE, students have been learning the traditional tale of “How the Dragon Came to Be”.  They have made connections to their classroom learning by talking about similar Indigenous stories, such as “How the Birds Got Their Colours”.   We explored how dragons are viewed differently in western and eastern cultures, and how Japanese people see dragons as protective water deities instead of destructive forces.

Students learnt how to say the Japanese word for dragon, which is “ryuu”, and most decided that the Kanji symbol was a good visual representation of the creature.  Students created intricately detailed dragon puppets which were able to open their mouths and bellow “gaoo” (roar), as all good dragons do.  They were very happy to take them home to keep as pets.

竜

さようなら

Sayounara,

Breadon Sensei.