‘KEEPING IT REAL!’
We all know how important reading is to a child’s development, but with all the immediate distractions in the modern world it can be difficult to engage young people in the activity of reading.
My answer is to ‘keep it real’ and show kids how books can live and breathe from the page! With Young Samurai, not only will they read a great action-adventure story, but they can experience Jack and Akiko’s world first hand by participating in martial arts, discussing & role-playing etiquette and language, designing their own kimono, eating sushi and even organising a Japanese festival!
Teachers’ Classroom Activities & Discussion Guide
This Young Samurai guide includes classroom activities, discussion questions and projects intended to extend the use of the novel into classrooms, book clubs, and literature circles.
BOOK 1: The Way of the Warrior
To download pdf, please click - Teachers_Guide_YSbk1_UK1.pdf
To download word doc, please click - Teachers_Guide_YSbk1_UK.doc
BOOK 2: The Way of the Sword
To download pdf, please click - Teachers_Guide_YSbk2_UK.pdf
To download word doc, please click - Teachers_Guide_YSbk2_UK.doc
BOOK 3: The Way of the Dragon
To download pdf, please click - Teachers_Guide_YSbk3_UK.pdf
To download word doc, please click - Teachers_Guide_YSbk3_UK.doc
BOOK 4: The Ring of Earth
To download pdf, please click - Teachers_Guide_YSbk4_UK.pdf
To download word doc, please click - Teachers_Guide_YSbk4_UK.doc
Scheme of Work - 3 week phase
This Scheme of Work for the Young Samurai books was created by Lynn Sears, Local Authority Literacy Consultant, for the Southwark Reading Festival and is available for free. To download word doc, please click -
Phase 1: Young samurai-Phase 1.doc
Phase 2: Young samurai-Phase 2.doc
Phase 3: Young samurai-Phase 3.doc
Zone of Relevance print out: YoungSamuraiResource 1Zone of Relevance.doc
Mime card print outs: YoungSamuraiResource2Mime Cards.doc
Teachers’ Review:
“Having read the book over the Summer I feel it is ideal as a class reader for our Year 7 students. As there is an increased focus on texts from other cultures and traditions in the GCSE examinations, we attempt to prepare our students for this by including such texts throughout KS3 as well. There are very many aspects explored in Young Samurai which lend themselves to discussion, enabling us to develop specific Speaking and Listening tasks for formal assessment, as well as numerous opportunities for analysis and as a springboard for creative writing. A really useful teachers’ guide.”
J. Clarkson, United Church Schools Trust
Feedback from Schools - click here
Supportive Teaching Materials
Please find a selection of supportive teaching materials for your use:
List of characters - YS character listing.pdf
Japan Map - Japanmap.pdf
Japan Map by Puffin - Japan map final.jpg
Explore Japan - explorejapan.pdf
Japan Now - japan now Z cards.pdf
Living In Japan - ks2livinginjapan.pdf
Japanese Numbers - basicnumber.doc
Japanese Festival Project Pack - Plan Your Own Matsuri (inc. making sushi) - plan your own matsuri.pdf
These materials are available at www.japan21.org and http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/.
For basic Japanese lessons, visit http://japanese.about.com/library/mmore.htm
Internet Resources
These are just a few of the great websites that can give you information on Japan:
Young Samurai official website - www.youngsamurai.com
For videos on samurai, ninja, bushido, the author’s Japan trip and to read or listen to the prologue and first chapter of Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior.
Japan 21 - www.japan21.org.uk
A UK charity which exclusively supports and encourages educational and grassroots activity relating to Japan. Provides many excellent teaching resources.
Kids Web Japan - http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/
Superb website all about Japan for kids including videos, stories, activities, games and loads more. A fantastic ‘Explore Japan’ pdf and a ‘Japan Now’ pdf can be downloaded from this site (or from the events page at www.chrisbradford.co.uk).
Teaching Kids All About Japan - http://www.card1616.com/teaching-kids-all-about-japan.html
A great resource and starting point for teachers and librarians with additional useful links to other websites on all aspects of Japan from history to culture to food.
Kung Fu Science - www.kungfuscience.org
Ever fancied yourself as Jackie Chan or Lucy Liu? Ever wondered how they break wood, concrete and bricks with their bare hands? Now you can learn everything there is to know about the ancient martial art of Kung Fu – including the science behind it – at the new multimedia website from the Institute of Physics. The website, aimed at boys and girls of 11 to 16 years, features prominent warnings for children not to try any of the moves at home.
Japan Times Online - www.japantimes.co.jp
Daily news and features on Japan from the most widely read English-language newspaper in Japan.
The Virtual Museum of Japanese Arts - http://web-jpn.org/museum/menu.html
Excellent interactive tours around the many forms of Japanese art, from painting and sculpture to Karate and calligraphy.
Akemi Solloway Sensei – www.solloway.org
Akemi Sensei is a lecturer of Japanese culture and the eldest daughter of an old samurai family. She provides highly recommended workshops, seminars and talks on Japan and its culture, including etiquette, kimono and the tea ceremony.
4 Kicks - www.4kicks.com
This website lists many excellent games that can be played in the dojo or in a school gymnasium. Look under ‘children’s drills’ section for ideas.
Young Samurai Events - click here
Event Feedback - click here
Health & Safety - click here
Book Me - click here
