Learning about Japan

Last week, Kyoko came into our classroom and taught us a little bit about Japan culture.  Kyoko originally came from Japan, so she knows a bit about it.

It was actually pretty cool to get to know a little bit more about the place that we are going to be trading art with.

Kyoko taught us lots of interesting and interactive things!

We began the day by looking at some of her origami, and then she taught us how to make a simple origami ball, the whole class participated and succeeded.  I didn't find that one too hard, but I can see how some of the complicated ones would be really difficult, and take a lot of determination to complete. Here is a picture of mine!

After this, Kyoko showed us how to use chopsticks, and she brought a pair for each of us to have.  She also brought in some Japanese snacks, and candies for us to try using.  It was really neat, even though I couldn't hold the chop sticks right.

She then made us traditional loose leaf green tea. It was really good actually, I usually don't like green tea.  She told us if you get a stem floating up straight that means you have good luck.  And I did get one! So that was pretty cool.

Before she left, she showed us some different kinds of traditional Japanese writing, she wrote, Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Winter.  It looked beautiful!  Also, she wrote a few students names.

And, sometime in between all of this going on, she showed us traditional sculptures, and books.  It was a really fun and educational day!