Happy Umi No Hi!
Or, if you prefer, Marine Day, or Day of the Sea in Japan! It was made a national holiday since the new millenium (and before that was tradition for many years). As a maritime nation, Japan celebrates the holiday by honoring the many blessings of the sea--from beauty to food.
We celebrated from afar today by talking about the holiday, looking at pictures of Japan, listening to traditional music (see the video below) and watching a super cool National Geographic video of Japanese sea creatures--including the Angler fish, and the Spider Crab!
I also told the children a wonderful Japanese folk story, "How the Sea Became Salty". Check out the full myth in the video below!
Students also enjoyed learning about the term "accelerando" (slow tempo that gradually increases to fast tempo) while marching with the drum to a fun song about the sea. Schoolagers practiced this song by playing their song flutes while I chanted, playing a simple quarter note and eighth note rhythm!
A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what he could see, see, see
But all that he could see, see, see
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea!
"How The Sea Became Salty"
A Japanese Folk Tale told by Miss Chantal
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD
1. What is Umi No Hi? It is a day that Japan celebrates the sea!
2. Why is the sea important to Japan? What lives there? The sea is an important food and business source for Japan. It is beautiful, too! All kinds of fish, octopus, sharks, and eels among many other animals live in the sea and oceans surrounding Japan.
3. In the folk story, "How the Sea Became Salty", what did the younger brother ask from the older brother? What made the sea salty? He asked for some rice, but his brother would not give it to him. The sea became salty from the mill, which kept turning after the older brother stole it. Watch the video clip above for the whole story!