Lesson 7
Lesson Plan Download pdf
Plenary (10 minutes - Year 5/ 6)
Debate: Some reports say that between 23 - 25 billion pairs of waribashi wooden chopsticks are used and thrown away in Japan every year. What is your opinion on this? Would you try and persuade people not to use waribashi? What materials might you use instead? Are there any similar problems in the UK (wooden lollipop sticks)? Is it worse to throw away plastic or wooden cutlery? Why?
Other Options! Pretend to eat or drink various items and the children put their thumb up if they think the correct corresponding verb is ‘tabemasu’, or down if they think the correct verb should be ‘nomimasu’. This is a quick and simple method of assessment.
Show the children the food pictures in ‘A Day with Kentaro’ (https://www.tjf.or.jp/shogakusei/kentaro/index_e.html or alternatively the food pictures on the following website: http://www.tjf.or.jp/shogakusei/6-1/donna/ichinichi_e.htm). Discuss the set up for school lunches (making reference to the fact that the children eat in their classrooms and are responsible for serving up and clearing up at meal times). Also worth pointing out is that before eating, most Japanese will say the following phrase: ‘itadakimasu - いただきます’. This is a humble way of expressing that you are about to eat. Perhaps the nearest Western equivalent would be, ‘bon appetit!’
What are the similarities and differences between the Japanese school and their own school? (See the School Culture Notes for further information on the Japanese Education System).
