Kokoro Lesson Plan

The Lay of the Land

Kind of Activity:

Research

Objective:

Students will explore the geography of the country in which the novel takes place.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.10

Structure:

The geography of Japan is noteworthy because a number of unique cultural touchstones exist in a relatively small space. For instance, Tokyo is located in the Kanto region, while Osaka is located in the Kansai region, and the two are quite different, culturally, from the type of food offered to the speaking dialect.

Divide students into eight groups. Each group will be assigned one of Japan's regions and prepare a report that discusses its geography and culture. The...