海の日
Umi No Hi
This week, students learned about the Japanese holiday "Umi No Hi" or Marine Day, otherwise known as "Sea Day".
This annual Japanese festival is held in July each year (the official start was July 20th this year), and it's purpose is to celebrate and thank the sea for all of its bounty!
In music class, we looked at pictures of Japan and the Japanese Sea, studied animals native to their waters and listened to traditional music. (Check out the Ensemble Nipponia below!) We also sangs songs of the sea with the lollipop drum, and learned all about the term "accelerando", wherein music gets faster and faster as you go!
I also told the children a wonderful Japanese folk tale--"Why the Sea is Salty". The story is about a poor brother, a rich brother, and the trouble that greediness can bring. Check out this video from last year, where I'm telling the story just as I did this year, and don't forget to ask your child the extender questions below!
Schoolagers also worked on a fun quarter note worksheet! Ask your child what they found by coloring in all of the quarter notes! =)
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD
1.) Why do the Japanese say "thank you" to the sea for Umi No Hi? Because it is a source of life! Their food comes from the sea, and their business. They also use the water to travel!
2.) What did the poor brother try to borrow from the rich brother in our folktale? A cup of rice
3.) What was the magic item that the little people in the forest gave the poor brother? They gave him a magic mill that would give him everything that he wanted!