Lesson 10
Lesson Plan Download pdf
Plenary (10 minutes)
Refer back to the Tanabata story and explain some of the background to the festival which is now currently celebrated on July 7th each year. (See Culture Notes for a greater explanation).
Have the children create their own tanzaku (wish card) on a rectangular strip of coloured paper, or use the tanzaku template worksheet. Punch a hole in the top of the rectangle and tie a loop of string through it. The wishes should ideally be hung from bamboo branches, but could equally be hung off a small tree in the school playground/ field.
Have children think carefully about what they wish for and once the wishes have been written, have the class read them out to one another. Have children made wishes for themselves, or for other people?
Additional Extra: Have children make other decorations to hang on your tananbata tree! Common decorations to make include paper chains, small paper lanterns and stars.
See the Japan Society website for a Tanabata Decorations Worksheet and other templates: https://www.japansociety.org.uk/resource?resource=37
Review the course. How have the children found the lessons? Which aspects of the course have they particularly enjoyed? Which parts did they find challenging? Why? Is there anything which surprised them? Look through the assessment sheets and discuss. Hand out the course certificates (can be downloaded from the assessment section of the course).
