The Japan Society
Education Teach about Japan
Origami and Mathematics

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Origami and Mathematics

As well as being a creative artform, origami can be a source of practical mathematics. In this lesson, students apply some mathematical concepts and problem solving to origami.

Tessellation with Japanese Patterns

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Tessellation with Japanese Patterns

This standalone lesson brings Japanese culture into the maths classroom, allowing students to learn about the history and significance of three Japanese patterns as they explore the properties of shapes. 

Soroban: Additional Resources Page

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Soroban: Additional Resources Page

These worksheets are supplementary to the scheme of work and can be used for more practice reading numbers on the soroban. 

Soroban: Lesson 5

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Soroban: Lesson 5

In the final lesson in the scheme of work, students practice what they have learnt so far by using the soroban to tackle multi-stage problems involving both addition and subtraction.

Soroban: Lesson 4

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Soroban: Lesson 4

This lesson introduces subtraction on the soroban. Students will learn how to subtract one and two-digit numbers, using the soroban as a calculation tool.

Soroban: Lesson 3

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Soroban: Lesson 3

Lesson 3 starts with a greater or less than activity to revise numbers on the soroban, before introducing addition. Using the soroban as a calculation tool students will add one and two-digit numbers.

Soroban: Lesson 2

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Soroban: Lesson 2

In this lesson, students apply what they learnt in the previous lessons to larger numbers. By the end of the lesson they will know how to read numbers up to 99 on the soroban. 

Soroban: Lesson 1

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Soroban: Lesson 1

In the first lesson, students will be introduced to the Japanese abacus and learn how it works. 

Soroban: The Japanese Abacus

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Soroban: The Japanese Abacus

Soroban, the Japanese abacus, provides a visual and tangible tool which allows students to see and manipulate a physical representation of abstract numbers.

Soroban (Japanese Abacus)

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Soroban (Japanese Abacus)

Class sets of the Japanese abacus as well as large teaching soroban are available. Schools are limited to one class set and one teaching soroban only each.