Outreach Topics

Would you like to invite NCTAN alumni to your school to talk about various topics to your students or to share resource with you and/or your colleagues?  Here are some topics/ideas/lessons/information, which the former NCTAN teachers have been teaching and presenting in class and conferences.  Even if you do not find topics you would like to have, contact Bogdan Leja (Refer to our Homepage for contact information).  We will find an educator for you.

The alumini who participated/presented the Outreach Program, click here to get to a link to the invoice.

Here are some of them and more topics are coming soon!
 

Topic

Country

Area of study

Academic grade

Note

Brush Writing, Shodo: Japanese Calligraphy

Japan

Art

all ages

 

Woodblock Prints -Hankaui: Everything you see can be art

Japan

Art

7-10

 

Hanko:

Japan

Art

6-12

Signature block, made from erasers

Haiku: Poem with illustrations

Japan

Art

6-12

 

Folding Screens:
   

Japan

Art

3-8

Cardboard rendition of famous folding screens

Hung Liu

China

Art

5-8

Art criticism, what her artwork is and what it means

Japan Tea Cup:

Japan

Art

4-12

Make a pinch pot cup for a tea ceremony just like ancient Japan, the oldest known pottery makers in the world.

Attitude Through Art:

Japan

art history

3-8

Visions of Mt. Fuji through   Hokaui's woodblock compared to photo of Mt. Fuji in the last 100 years

Rice Bowl:

Japan

Art

4-12

Create a coiled bowl for Japan's staple food.

Kimono / Kamodo:

Japan

Art

K-4

Read a story about kamodo dragons and view artwork with kimono then compare and contrast in a Vin diagram.

Class celebration with parade, poems, and drama

China, Korea, and Japan

English (world literature)

9 - 12

How to procure materials, prepare for lessons, conduct a two-week celebration preparation, carry off presentations in a class celebration outdoors

Puppets

China

English (world literature)

9 - 12

Making giant puppets, small puppets, puppet stage:  resources and personal experience in making puppets, putting on shows

Haiku

Japan

English (world literature)

9 - 12

Writing haiku and tanka:  Examples of principles behind haiku and tanka, information on Basho, creating poetry in the classroom, poetry recitation

Noh

Japan

English (world literature)

9 - 12

Putting on a Noh play:  How to manage acting out a Noh play that involves the whole class in some role or another, based on "The Autumn Moon"

Garden

Japan

English (world literature)

9 - 12

Creating a Japanese Garden:  Principles of Japanese gardening applied to a garden created at school; garden layout, establishing a garden using community resources, garden maintenance

Children's Day fish and fishing poles: 

Japan

English (world literature)

9 - 12

Children's Day fish and fishing poles:  one-day activity with take-home work
to display for the family, how to deal with bamboo in the classroom

Kame trees and Samurai principles

Japan

English (world literature)

9 - 12

Kame trees and Samurai principles:  using Kurosawa film and folktale as basis for discussion

Brush Painting

China & Japan

Art

 7-10

 

Haiku

Japan

Art

 7-10

 

Hanko, or Seals

Japan

Art

 7-10

 

Educational System of Japan

Japan

All

 All age

Power Point presentation

Japan, All About Japan

Japan

All

 All age

It includes a little of everything. food, people, customs, etc.  That one takes about 1hr to 1hr 15 minutes to present.

Ancient Archaeology

China

Social Studies

 9 - 12

 

Qin Dynasty information,

China

Social Studies

 9 - 12

 

Great Wall,

China

Social Studies

 9 - 12

 

Comparisons between Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and Legalism.

China

Social Studies

 9 - 12

 

Books and references

 All

All

 9 - 12

 A librarian has developed a list of recommended books and materials for various area of teaching.

Hibakusha: the Stories and Art of Hiroshima A-bomb Survivors Japan English (world literature) 9 - 12  
Godzilla and the Nuclear Age (Japan/US Relations) Japan English (world literature) 9 - 12  
The Use of Poster Art in the Cultural Revolution of China China English (world literature) 9 - 12  
Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism: the Feng Shui of Chinese Philosophy China English (world literature) 9 - 12  
Geisha and Samurai Traditions in Ukiyo-e (Floating World Art) Japan English (world literature) 9 - 12  
Divine Monkeys in China and India (Hanuman in Ramayana and Monkey King in Journey to the West) China English (world literature) 9 - 12  
1989 Student Movement in China (I was teaching in PRC from 1988-90 and saw this in action) China English (world literature) 9 - 12  
Tokogawa Art and History of Japan Japan English (world literature) 9 - 12  
Madame Butterfly: Western Influence in Japan from William Adams to Matthew Perry Japan English (world literature) 9 - 12  
The Chinese View of Health and Medicine China English (world literature) 9 - 12  
Class Acts: Kabuki and Noh in Japan Japan English (world literature) 9 - 12  
Wisdom in Cartoons of Japan and China Japan & China English (world literature) 9 - 12  
A Japanese Schindler:  Japan and Shanghai's Part in Saving European Jews from the Nazi's Holocaust Japan English (world literature) 9 - 12  
Cultural Beginnings of Japan:  from Shinto Creation Stories and Ainu Epics to Ethnic Encounter Japan English (world literature) 9 - 12  
Teaching Journey to the West: Political and Cultural Lessons from Monkeys and Monks China English (world literature) 9 - 12  
 Films and Filmmakers in Japan and China Japan English (world literature) 9 - 12  
Using Symbolism in Narrative Art and Artifact to Teach China China English (world literature) 9 - 12