Project Description

Classroom

Objective/focus
My objective is to teach my 650 elementray art students about the arts and culture if Japan. I will develop specific Japanese art lessons and add them to the curriculum at each grade level. Completed Japanese based art assignements will be displayed on the hall walls and in the lunch room for students, staff, parents and community viewing. I would like to involve all teachers and students at Graham School in the Japanese Arts and Culture Program.

Resources
Funding for the Japanese art visuals, art supplies, origami organizer, the Pokemon books and video, and Japanese musical instruments and blow-up paper balls has been provided by the The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chicago, (JCCC). I applied for their Student Development and Achievement Grant in the amount of $4,999.50 in July of 1999 and was awarded the grant in October, while I was in Japan as a FMF participant. Japanese art lessons have been researched at the library and I have exchanged lesson plans with FMF participants via e-mail and snail mail. Written lesson plans will be developed throughout the school year, as needed.

School

Objective/focus
My objective is to develop and sustain a school wide interest in Japanese arts and culture throughout the school year. To do this I need to share my FMF Japan experiences with the Graham School students and staff as soon as I returned from the FMF trip in October, while the interest level was high. I displayed pictures, photographs, and Japanese Pokemon cards in the Graham School hallways. I wore my art smock, with iron-on Pokemon characters, in my art classes. Toys, hand crafted artifacts and books from Japan were displayed in a Japanese Cultural Center in the school library. I spoke to Graham School teachers and staff about the FMF Japan Program experience 1999. Future plans to promote and maintain interest in Japan include Japanese art lessons at all grade levels, mural painting, mobile making, a haiku and tanka poetry workshop, ikebana and bonsai floral arranging demonstrations, a Japanese food tasting for students and staff.

Resources
Funding for the Japanese hand crafted artifacts, toys, books, and videos for the Graham School's library Japanese Cultural Center, photographs, mural supplies, ikebana, and bonsai floral arrangement demonstratoins has been provided by The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chicago. The Student Development and Achievement Grant, in the amount of $4999.50, will be used to pay for as many of the planned activities as possible.
Funding for the Haiku and Tanka Poetry Workshop has been provided by the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation. I applied for their educatoinal mini-grant in the amount of $625.65 in October, upon my return from Japan. I will be awarded the grant on 12/13/99.

A funding request for the Japanese food sampling expenses will be submitted to the Graham School PTA in mid-December. This will include a request to speak to PTA members at their January meeting about my FMF trip to Japan and the Japanese Arts and CUlture Program at Graham School this year.

School District/Community

Objective/focus
My objective is to share my knowledge about Japanese arts and culture and the Japanese educational system with my colleagues, parents, and the community.
Resources
Funding for performances of the Japanese koto string musicians, taiko drummers, Okinawan dancesr and martial arts demonstrations at the Graham School Japanese ARts and Culture Festival have been provided by The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chicago. I applied for and recieved a Student Development and Achievement Grant in the amount of $4,999.50.

Personal

Objective/focus
I plan to stay in touch with my host family in Omiya, Saitama, Japan. I have written Mrs. Kiyono Takeno twice since I left her home in October. I have sent a thank you gift to Kiyono and her son Hiro. Kiyono and I are both artists and art lovers. I am grateful that I was selected to stay at her home. I will work at maintaining this international friendship. I also plan to stay in touch with October 1999 FMF participants.