Chapter 4 Geography

Performance Objectives
Students will be able to:

• compose a song using names of Japanese locations
• identify the impact of limited space upon the Japanese
• compare the price of products in New York and in Tokyo

Teacher Background:
These learning activities were designed, not as self-contained lessons, but were meant to be incorporated into classroom settings in order to serve the needs of the students and the teachers.

All of our students spend a great deal of their time listening to music. Therefore, we used this interest as a motivational strategy in order to integrate geography into the social studies lesson. Although this particular musical selection uses the words and melody from the folk song, This Land is Your Land the musical rendition could easily be changed to a rap, reggae or rock version to meet the needs and musical expression of the students and teachers.

The use of the real estate ad demonstrates the scarcity of land in an island nation. The comparison of a typical New York studio apartment to the same space used as a family dwelling in Tokyo demonstrates that concept. This may be used as an introductory resource to a geography, economics or even history lesson.

Materials:
A class set of Worksheet A and B and set of maps of Japan.

Procedure
Duplicate and distribute the map of Japan at rear of book. Distribute Worksheet A: This Land is Your Land. Introduce song. Ask students to locate the places mentioned.

Allow students 15-20 minutes to work together in small groups to compose their own song which includes at least 12 place names. Ask for volunteers to perform.

Distribute Worksheet B: Classified: Apartments for Rent. Ask students to read both classified ads.

• What general conclusions can you draw as a result of the ad?