Life in Medieval Japan Project

We will be taking a look at various aspects of life in medieval Japan. We will do this in 2 ways, as a pairs project and as an individual project.

Pairs Project

  • You and your partner will be assigned a topic to present. You will have a list of the questions that students must know about your topic, so that you can cover them explicitly.
  • Product: each topic should have a PowerPoint presentation that includes a short (less than 4 minute video) directly related to your topic that adds information. The PowerPoint should have bullet points that make note-taking easy, but your verbal presentation should be from that of an expert.
  • You will provide Ms. Converse-Rath a copy of your presentation via flash drive or email before the presentation.
  • You and your partner will be graded on the content and professional quality of your presentation.
  • There is a grid on the back of this sheet. You will use it to take notes from the source provided as well as 1 alternate source. Each person will turn in a sheet (they should not be identical).

Individual Project

From the notes you have taken after all of the presentations, you will put together a diary. The premise is that you have just landed in Nara, the capital of Japan in 1124 CE. You want to capture everything you see so that when you return to your own time, you can share all that you have learned.

Your diary will consist of 5 entries. Each entry will be a separate page.

Read the scenario for each diary page and

Include at least 4 major details that you learned about

Be realistic and use appropriate vocabulary ( use vocabulary words where you can).

Add pictures to illustrate the diary

Be descriptive, detailed and remember to use proper grammar & spelling.

Use your best creative writing style while giving the facts.

#1 You have just spent the day observing a famous Samurai. He informed you of his role in the time period as well as his responsibilities to his daimyo. Write an entry and include a picture that captures your day with the Samurai.

#2 Today you learned about 2 of Japan’s martial arts, sumo wrestling and jujitso. Write about the origins and the experience of the day.

#3 Today you learned about the ninja. Your diary entry should include how the group originated, who would participate and the weapons they might use. Compare this knowledge with how ninjas are portrayed today.

#4 You have spent a weekend in the mountains learning about Shintosim and Buddhism from their devote followers. Describe the basic tenets of each, as well as your weekend in the mountains.

#5 Yourfinal day in Japan involved being a tourist. You eat some traditional foods, visited an art gallery, wore a kimono, visited an architectural site and saw a Bunraku performance. Wow! What a day!