the art of japan: multimedia


ACTIVITY 3 Legend and Symbol Map of Japan

Overview

This activity introduces students to a legend and its symbols using a map of Japan. The map will show crops, industry, and resources of Japan. The students can then become familiar with the legend symbols and see where in Japan food and other items are produced.

Materials

  • copy of legend/symbol Japan map for each student
  • overhead transparency of Japan legend map or enlarged version for group viewing
  • large world map showing Japan
Procedures<
  1. Orient students to where Japan is and where it is in relationship to the United States and to their homes using the large world map. This is a difficult concept for students at this age to understand but exposure will be beneficial to them.
  2. Explain to the students that Japan is a country. Show the students the transparency on the overhead of the legend/symbol map or the enlarged version.
  3. Ask the students what they see. What do they think the pictures are on the map? Write their answers on the chalkboard or, if space is available, on the overhead.
  4. Explain to the students that these pictures are symbols of what Japan produces. The pictures (symbols) are placed to show where in the country the crops and resources are located.
  5. Discuss the symbols and what they represent. Show the students the legend containing the symbols and their names.
  6. Give to each student or small group of students a legend/symbol map of Japan.
  7. Explain that they will be working to see how many of each symbol they can find.
  8. As the students are counting they may record the number they find next to the picture on the legend or on another recording sheet that has been devised.
  9. This activity lends itself to the teaching of various concepts. Feel free to create other opportunities for learning from this map exercise.
Extensions
  • The class may create a poster-sized version of this Japan legend/symbol map. Just make an enlarged outline of Japan and have students draw and color in the symbols.
  • This activity would lend itself to graphing of the symbols. See how the numbers of each symbol compare to one another on a graph.

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