Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

by Eleanor Coerr

paintings by Ronald Himler

 

Coerr, Eleanor. (1977). Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. New York, NY: Dell Publishing.

Grade Level: 4th - 5th grade

This week we will start a new story titled Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, by Eleanor Coerr. This is a true story based on the life of a ten year old, Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki. She lived in Japan towards the end of World War II. In this story we will find out why Sadako is considered a heroine to the children of Japan.

Materials:

pencil journal paper for origami computer hooked-up

to the Internet

Objectives:

Before reading this book we will work with a partner to:

bulletInvestigate interesting facts about Japan.
bulletCompare our lifestyles to the lifestyles of the people of Japan.
bulletLearn about when and where the atomic bombs were dropped.
bulletTour the Peace Park in Japan.
bulletLearn how to make a paper crane.
bulletCreate a haiku poem for this story.

Keep all the information you find on the web in the journal we have prepared for this story. Click on to the websites provided. To return to this document, click on the back arrow on the upper left hand corner of the toolbox. Continue to back click until you reach this page. Then you may continue to the next website.

Searching the Web for Information:
    1. Sadako lived in Hiroshima, Japan. Click on the websites below titled Nature and Climate, and Map of Japan to find out:
bulletInformation about the climate and seasons of Japan. Make a list of 4 interesting facts you found about the climate and nature of Japan.

http://www.jinjapan.org/kidsweb/japan/g.html

bulletHow many regions is Japan divided into?
bulletClick on the Chugoku region (purple area on the map). When the information appears, click onto the question. After reading the information, name four (4) special characteristics of the Chugoku region.

http://www.jinjapan.org/kidsweb/japan/map/j_regi.html

 

    1. In these websites your will read information about Daily Life, Schools, and Outside the Classroom activities of the people of Japan. Make sure you click on to the Q&A (Questions and Answers) at the end of each section. They will provide you with more information. Make a chart to compare similarities and differences between the Japan and the United States according to:
bulletHousing
bulletFood
bulletDress
bulletSchools
bulletGames
bulletFamily time
bulletSports

http://www.jinjapan.org/kidsweb/japan/a.html

http://www.jinjapan.org/kidsweb/japan/b.html

http://www.jinjapan.org/kidsweb/japan/c.html

 

 

    1. The United Stated ended WWII using the atomic bomb. Go to the next websites to find out:
bulletWhat is an A-Bomb?

http://www.csi.ad.jp/ABOMB/data.html

bulletWhen and where were the atomic bombs dropped?
bulletApproximately how many people died in each of the bombings?

http://www.jinjapan.org/kidsweb/japan/i/q4.html

 

    1. Let's take a tour of the Peace Park in Hiroshima, Japan. Click on to the

website below. Make sure you visit the following sites in the Peace Park. Number and describe what you see in these pictures in your journal.

bullet4
bullet10
bullet13
bullet36
bullet38
bullet47

http://www.csi.ad.jp/ABOMB/pp.html

 

    1. Origami is a very special way of folding paper to produce beautiful artwork. Ask your teacher for a piece of paper and go to the next website to learn how to make a paper crane. Click on to the site below. Read the cover page and then click on How to fold a Paper Crane. Follow directions very carefully, and ask for assistance if needed.

      2. http://www.sadako.com/howtofold.html

    2. Finally, a haiku is a form of Japanese poem consisting of 3 short verses,

totaling 17 syllables. The first verse consists of five syllables, the second verse of seven syllables, and third verse of five syllables. There is another special rule that needs to be followed when writing a haiku. Find it out on this last website.

 

http://www.jinjapan.org/kidsweb/japan/d/q2.html

Brainstorm some ideas with your partner that can be used to write a haiku about the story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes to be used after we are done reading the story.

Conclusions:

This is the end of our Internet Project. Please make sure that you have copied and completed all the activities that you were required to complete in this project. All the information you have looked up has to be recorded in your Sadako journal. We will discuss all the information gathered as a group before we start to read the story. Your journals will be graded for following directions and procedures, accuracy, spelling, and correct punctuation. Don't forget to brainstorm your ideas for the haiku poems. We will be completing the poems after we have finished reading the story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. Have Fun!

Technology Project - READ611

Noemí Cuadrado