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Ideas for teaching JapaneseWRITING KANJI 漢字
Ideas for teaching Japanese writing including kanji in the classroom, useful websites, board games, PowerPoints, videos, posters, flashcards and free downloadable worksheets.
Booklets
Hai! 1-4 Kanji revision bookletPractice kanji from the Hai! 1-4 series (12 page booklet).Donated by K McMenamin  | hai_1-4_kanji_revision.doc | | File Size: | 228 kb | | File Type: | doc |
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HSC KanjiKanji booklets (13 booklets = 200 kanji) including stroke order, a space for students to create a hint, pronunciations, meanings and combinations. (Based on year 12 HSC Kanji requirements and Wakatta textbook.)Donated by C DaggerN.B. This is a large file (64MB) and may take a few minutes to download:  | hsc_booklets.zip | | File Size: | 66974 kb | | File Type: | zip |
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| Senior KanjiKanji practice book for year 11 and 12 students. (37 pages) Includes practice areas for each Kanji and an area below each Kanji to write in words that use that Kanji. At the back of the booklet there are Kanji tests. Topics covered include Self-introductions, tegami, kousoku to shuukan, celebrations, hobbies and interests, entertainment, environment, travel, health, youthful celebrations, keigo, work, living in Japan. Students fill in the English in the far right column as they learn the Kanji. The book is bound backwards like a Japanese book, so that the Kanji side of the test sheets are at the unbound edge of the page. When completing the tests put on a timer for approx 2 minutes, students fold the completed columns under or cover them with something, so that they are looking at the English and completing the far left Kanji column.Donated by M Browne |  | kanji_senior_booklet.docx | | File Size: | 468 kb | | File Type: | docx |
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Kanji seniorThis booklet shows students the basic rules of stroke order, the different kanji readings. Based on Obento Textbook (year 11).Donated by T White  | kanji_senior_booklet.docx | | File Size: | 289 kb | | File Type: | docx |
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Quizzes Kanji (Year 12 students)Kanji quizzes booklet (11 quizzes) for students studying Japanese in year 12. Students write the hiragana and English meaning of each set of kanji.Donated by H Beech. | year_12_kanji_quizzes.doc | | File Size: | 79 kb | | File Type: | doc |
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Games and activities in class
Air aerobics K Hutchinson Tt stands at the front of the class and instructs Ss to write certain things in the air with their arms and legs. Eg. ‘Using your left hand write the kanji for 'tabemasu' 食ます. Now use your right foot and draw nomimasu '飲ます . etc.
Around the world A Suzuki Ss sit in a horseshoe shape. The first Ss on the left of the horseshoe shape stands behind the Ss to his/her left. These two Ss are asked a question related to the target language. Eg. “How do you pronounce this kanji? OR What does this kanji mean?” The first Ss to answer continues left around the horseshoe shape (imagine going around the world). This Ss continues moving around the world until another Ss is faster than him/her. The Ss who is the slowest sits down and the Ss who is faster takes his/her place. Once one of the Ss has reached the end of the horseshoe shape they then have a final 3 questions together with the last person in the horseshoe shape. The Ss who wins the final 3 questions competes against the person who moved the most around the horseshoe shape. The two Ss then compete with a final 3 questions. The winner is the Ss who answers the most questions correctly and the quickest.
Back writing Adapted from www.eslprintables.com Each pupil uses his/her finger as a pencil and writes a kanji character on his/her classmate’s back. This classmate tries to guess the word (or letter). If he or she guesses it before the “writer” finishes, he/she get three points. If he or she guesses it after the word has been written once, both children get two points. If the word has to be written a second time, they only get one point.
Ball tossGet a large ball and write the kanji characters being studied all over it. Throw the ball around the room. As it is thrown, yell out 'migi みぎ' (right) or 'hidari ひだり' left. When the Ss catches the ball they need to read the kanji that is closest to their migi or hidari hand (which ever was called out by the thrower).
Basketball kanjiThe Ss are divided into two teams. Say a kanji and the Ss who writes it first and correctly gets a point. That Ss then gets the opportunity to shoot a pretend basketball into the pretend trashcan "goal." The student can choose from the 3, 2, or 1 point shooting range. If the student doesn't get the ball in the basket, his or her team still receives at least 1 point for writing the kanji the fastest. The team with the most points at the end wins.
Board FlashEach Ss has a mini whiteboard (or a laminated piece of paper), whiteboard marker and eraser (or a chux). Tt yells out a kanji. The Ss write it on the whiteboard and then show the Tt as quickly as possible. Points can be allocated to the fastest Ss. Or the fastest Ss can then yell out the next letter.
Board memory Write kanji being studied randomly on the board. Ss then try to memorize them. Get Ss to put their heads down. ‘Minai de kudasai. みないでください。’ Then erase one of the letters. Ask the Ss to look ‘Hai, mitte kudasai みってください。’ Ss put their hands up if they know which kanji is missing. The Tt selects the Ss who was the fastest. If they are correct then they can get the next chance at erasing a kanji from the board. (Flashcards can also be used instead of writing the kanji on the board. These flashcards can easily be removed and replaced.)
Dokkan (bang)Write the kanji being studied onto paddle pop sticks. Also write three paddle pop sticks with the word ‘DOKKAN ドッカン’ (bang). Put them all into a cup. Divide the class into two teams (or more teams). Get one student from each team to come to the front of the room. They take a paddle pop stick. If they can name the kanji correctly they get to keep the paddle pop stick. If they can’t name the kanji they have to put the paddle pop stick back. If the Ss pulls out a ‘DOKKAN ドッカン’ stick then they must put all their paddle pop sticks back into the cup. The team with the most paddle pop sticks at the end is the winner.
DominoesPrepare a set of dominoes with kana/English on one side of the domino and kanji on the other. Ss then match up the kanji with the kana/English.
Fan-tastic To review kanji put the word you want Ss to learn onto a piece of A4 paper. Fold the paper in a fan shape. Slowly reveal the word, fan section by fan section. Ss have to guess what the word is before the fan is completely opened. (For each fold left over Ss can get a point.)
Guru guru JankenArrange about 10 chairs in a horse shoe shape. On each chair place a kanji card. Divide the class into two teams. Each team lines up at opposite ends of the horse shoe. The Tt says 'starto' and the students go around saying each kanji. When the students meet they play jankenpon. The Ss that wins continues the one that loses has to go back to the end of the line of his/her team. If a Ss goes the entire way around the horse shoe shape they get a point for their team. EXTRA: To make sure the Ss are reading the kanji correctly have one Ss from each team on the outside of the horse shoe checking what each Ss is saying. Also, to make it more difficult have two or three pairs of Ss going round the horse shoe at the same time!
| Janken Race Game J ChalmerChoose a starting point on the circle and place your counter there. Your partner starts opposite you on the circle. Play janken. The winner can move forward the following number of spaces: Win on ぐう = 3 spaces, Win on ちょき= 2 spaces, Win on ぱあ=1 space. The aim is to catch up to your partner. When you land on the same space your partner is on, you win the round. Colour in the tile and start a new round. When all the tiles are coloured, the winner is the person with the most tiles. (Modify this game with any kana, kanji or words that need reviewing.) |  | junken_race_game_kanji.docx | | File Size: | 92 kb | | File Type: | docx |
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Kanji concentrationGive Ss a blank piece of paper. Get them to fold the paper into squares. Unfold the paper. Then Ss write the kanji being studied (use a pencil or a light coloured pen so that the letters can't be seen through the other side.) Cut out the squares. Lay the squares face down in random order on the desk. Ss then try to find pairs of the same letters.
Kanji jumble Adapted from www.eslprintables.com The class is divided into pairs or groups.The teacher writes some words in kanji about a topic being studied on the board and gives each group a set of small cards where the ss copy each kanji and any hiragana on the board. Then they have to mix the kanji/hiragana and then recompose each word. To make it more challenging the Tt can erase the words on the board.The teacher walks around checking the words and asking the Ss o read out the words. For more advanced students, the teacher can write sentences rather than words and pupils have to recompose the sentence word by word.
Kanji Ninja Donated by L Brandis Tt faces his/her back towards the Ss and draws above his/her head a kanji in the air. The Ss guess the letter. Ss replace the Tt.
Kanji picturesGive each student a blank kanji letter. Get them to create a picture from the kanji. Then stick these kanji around the room as reminders.
Kanji race off Donated by W LuDivide the class into two groups and have them line up on two opposite sides. Lay out Kanji cards on tables in the centre of the room. Teacher calls out a Kanji word and each team sends a representative to find the target Kanji from the large pool. One correct card earns a point for the team.
Kanji Stomp Donated by L Brandis Put a few kanji scattered on the floor at the front of the classroom. Select two Ss. Say a kanji. The first Ss to stomp on it with their foot and shouts the kanji is the winner. This person may now select the next Ss to come and play. (Or the Ss continue a few times. The Ss with the most flashcards at the end is the winner).
Kanji Taisou Donated by L Brandis Ss choose a body part and then use it to write a kanji in Japanese.
Kanji snatchGive each pair of Ss a set of kanji. Ss put the kanji on the table in front of them. The Tt then yells out one of the kanji. Ss need to grab the corresponding kanji. The fastest gets to keep it. If there is a tie then they play junkenpon to see who keeps the kanji card. The Ss with the most cards at the end is the winner.
Kanji Michikusa A Suzuki Use a grid (about 8 by 10). Write 3 stroke Kanji from one side of the grid to the other (randomly but still making sure that students can make a line of 3 stroke Kanji from the start to the goal). Label where the first 3 stroke kanji is with ‘Start’ and on the other where the last 3 stroke kanji is with the ‘Goal’. Complete the grid with other Kanji such as 2 or 4 stroke Kanji. Ss draw a line from the start to the goal finding all the 3 stroke Kanji. Extra: hiragana vs katakana, numbers vs kanji, travel vocabulary vs other vocabulary etc.
Kanji Rebuild A Suzuki Tt shows a kanji on a A3 piece of paper which has been broken up into each stroke (they can be out of stroke order). The Ss have to put the strokes back together and guess what the kanji is. (This can be done in pairs). Extra: can use this with hiragana, katakana or spelling of words
Line up kanjiDivide the class into three groups. Get each group to stand into a straight line in front of the teacher. Tt shows a kanji. The three Ss standing at the front of each line must say the kanji. The Ss who is the fastest gets to go to the end of the line. The Tt shows the next kanji and so on. Each time the leader of the team gets back to the front of their line their team gets a point.
Memory One set of kanji cards (or kanji withj hiragana meaning sets). Put all cards face down and the Ss have to find the matching pairs.
| Name card in kanjiStudents go to www.yournameinjapanese.com and find a kanji combination that they like. Then using calligraphy sets students make desk name cards. Donated by R Dettmann |  |
| Naughts and crosses kanjiUse kanji (or kana) in place of X or O on a naughts and crosses board. The teacher can demonstrate on the board the correct stroke order and the students can copy these into the boxes at the top the worksheet.Donated by K Caughey. |  | naughts_and_crosses_hiragana.docx | | File Size: | 169 kb | | File Type: | docx |
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Newspaper kanjiGet old Japanese newspapers, magazines or advertisements (print off Japanese webpages). Get Ss to find the kanji being studied. Ss then cut out the kanji and clue them into their books.
Ohajiki おはじきGet a number of small stones or flat marbles. On each stone write a kanji. Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a bag of stones. Spread the stones out onto the desk/floor. A Ss reads two of the stones and flicks the one stone onto the other. If the stones touch (without touching any other stone) then they get to keep the stone. The Ss with the most stones at the end wins.
OHT memory A Suzuki Put up an OHT with random kanji on it. Ss have one minute to remember whats on the OHT. Tt removes the OHT and Ss write down all things they can remember. The Ss who remembers the most words wins.
Pipe cleaner kanjiGive each Ss a bunch of pipe cleaners. Get them to create kanji out of the pipe cleaners. (Play dough could be used instead of pipe cleaners.)
Review sheetCopy a picture from each chapter in the textbook that Ss have studied. Then draw a bubble above each picture. Ss write a kanji, words, or sentences using kanji that is related to the chapter picture.
Run and write Divide the class into two teams. Allocate a runner for each team. Tt shows a flashcard of the pronunciation of a kanji the Ss then run to the board and writes the kanji. The person to first do this gets a point. The team with the most points at the end is the winner. Run and circle Write on the board the kanji being studied. Divide the class into 2 teams. One Ss from each team stands at the back of the room. The Tt then yells out a kanji. The Ss run and circle the kanji. The fastest gets a point for their team. The next Ss of each team then has a go until all Ss have had a turn.
Scavenger Hunt KanjiPut kanji letters all around the room.Divide the class into two teams.Select two Ss.Tt says a kanji letter.The first Ss to find that kanji and say it in Japanese gets a point for their team.The team with the most points is the winner. Stroke order relay Divide class into groups of 4 or 5. Students stand behind each other in a line facing the whiteboard. The teacher gives each a student at the front of their line a whiteboard marker. The teacher then says a word/kanji. The students at the front of the each line walks quickly to the whiteboard and writes the first stroke of the kanji word. The students return to their line and hand the pen to the next student who will write the next stroke of the Kanji. Students may only write one stroke at a time. If the student at the board at the time doesn’t know how to write a stroke they will have to go back and hand the pen over to the next student. Conintue until one team has written the kanji/word correctly. This team is the winner and earns a point for their team. Repeat with new words. At the end of the game the team with the most point wins. Donated by N Collins
Tic-Tac-Toe kanji Adapted from www.superteacherideas.comDivide your students into two teams. Draw a big tic-tac-toe grid up on the board. Choose one person of one team to start. Tell them a kanji letter to write. Get one of the students from one of the teams to come up and write the kanji. If they write the kanji correctly, then a person from the same team gets to come up and writes another letter. If they get it wrong, then a person from the opposite team gets to come up. The first to complete 3 squares in a row is the winner. EXTRA: Have a completed tic-tac-toe grid on the board. Two Ss come up to the board. If they can read a kanji correctly they can draw a maru (circle) or batsu (cross) for their team. The first team to get 3 in a row is the winner.
Word tree Adapted from www.eslprintables.comDivide the students into groups. For each kanji being studied provide a cut-out of a large tree. Write or paint the kanji on the trunk of the tree. Ask the students to “hang” words on slips of paper containing the kanji from the branches of the tree. Display the accumulated trees on the classroom wall as the term progresses.Use them for periodic reading review.
Wani kanji ワニ漢字Use about 10 kanji flashcards include one or two 'Wani' cards. Drill the flashcards. Each time a kanji is shown the students chant that kanji 3 times. If a 'wani' card is shown all the students yell out 'wani', stand up and swap chairs. The last student to get a seat must come to the front of the class and do 10 star jumps (the rest of the class count aloud 1 to 10 in Japanese). Then continue drilling the flashcards. OR: Rather than swapping seats students could stand up when they see a 'wani' and sit down at the next 'wani' last to stand or sit must do the star jumps. | wani_card.docx | | File Size: | 17 kb | | File Type: | docx |
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PowerPoints
CalligraphyThis powerpoint introduces shuuji and shodou. It discusses ‘kakizome’ the first calligraphy of the year. This PowerPoint has a 2014 theme: ‘kotoshi no kanji’ of 2013 and the uma for 2014 Year of the horse. It includes information and links about performance shodou.Donated by K Kirkpatrick  | shuuji_shodou_kakizome.ppt | | File Size: | 2041 kb | | File Type: | ppt |
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Kanji originsPowerPoint introducing the origins of Japanese kanji. Donated by A Polverino  | kanji_origins_ppt.ppt | | File Size: | 691 kb | | File Type: | ppt |
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Videos
| Japanese Kanji BasicsVideo introducing the basics of Japanese kanji including the origins of Kanji, what is On reading and Kun reading, stroke styles such as stop, release and hook.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtwD31VPI1c |
| Radicals song 部首のうた Bushu no uta Song introducing some of the basic kanji radicals through a song.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9m7ceI7gqU |
Websites
| Basic kanji gamesVarious games for practicing hiragana, katakana and basic kanji. Plus numerous vocabulary pages.http://www.learn-hiragana-katakana.com/ |  |
| Calligrapher NaoLearn how to write kanji stroke by stroke. Calligraphy lessons. (Click on the word links at the bottom of the page.)http://www.japanesecalligrapher.com/ |  |
| Dictionary - Kanji stroke orderSearch kanji by on or kun reading. Includes stroke order pictures and animation.http://www.sp.cis.iwate-u.ac.jp/icampus/u/akanji.jsp |  |
| Handwritten kanji searchSearch kanji by using the mouse to hand write it into a box. Suggested kanji are given. Click on the desired kanji for detailed explanations, meaning, sentences and possible combinations.http://kanji.sljfaq.org/draw.html |  |
| Kanji compoundshttp://learningplace.eq.edu.au/cx/resources/items/0300c72c-5883-ab1e-de2d-1ebf2e0aa37f/2/ViewIMS.jsp?backto=closeCreate kanji compound words by selecting two kanji according to the English translation.Restricted to The Learning Place members only. Access information here. |  |
| Kanji compounds spinSpin the wheels and guess the English meanings of the compound kanji.http://learningplace.eq.edu.au/cx/resources/items/f5f42106-6881-dd81-0cdc-b9bfcd7a2519/2/ViewIMS.jsp?backto=closeRestricted to The Learning Place members only. Access information here. |  |
| Kanji damage websitehttp://kanjidamage.com/ Learn kanji using mnemonics and jokes. (***WARNING some adult only content.) |  |
| Kanji dictionary with stroke orderSearch kanji by English meaning. On and kun yomi, stroke order animations, display words beginning or ending with the kanji.http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/kanjidic.nsf/SortedByMoLa2THEnglish?OpenView |  |
| Kanji difference mazeFind the keys in the maze and recognize the differences in similar kanji to get out.http://learningplace.eq.edu.au/cx/resources/items/d77e13dc-9787-6f71-9b8a-08c284ea8b53/2/ViewIMS.jsp?backto=closeRestricted to The Learning Place members only. Access information here. |  |
| Kanji fixSelect the correct kanji from the group then fix those that are not correct. http://learningplace.eq.edu.au/cx/resources/items/cfb4ce6b-c031-1fa5-cfa6-703b560ef528/2/ViewIMS.jsp?backto=closeRestricted to The Learning Place members only. Access information here. |  |
| Kanji games for studentsStudents can practice kanji with various games.http://anime-manga.jp/KanjiGame/School/ |  |
| Kanji master drillJLPT style kanji drill questions. 3 different kanji flash card drills.http://japanese-lesson.com/characters/kanji/kanji_drill4/index.html |  |
| Kanji matchTwo matching games. Match similar kanji. Practice Kanji recognition. http://learningplace.eq.edu.au/cx/resources/items/4b080007-71f0-8741-850b-0a027db47e32/2/ViewIMS.jsp?backto=closeRestricted to The Learning Place members only. Access information here. |  |
| Kanji nurieColouring in pictures based on kanji.http://d.hatena.ne.jp/e_autumnhill001/20111212/1323694692 |  |
| Kanji picture flashcardsDownload 200 different Kanji flashcards with pictures, meaning and examples. A4 size ready to use in the classroom. PDF format.http://www.jpf.org.uk/language/kanjifiles/kanjicard.html |  |
| Kanji puzzlesKanji crosswords, sudoku, match up gameshttps://www.scribd.com/doc/6513615/8-Japanese-Kanji-Crossword-Puzzles |  |
| Kanji quizzesTest knowledge of onyomi, kunyomi and meanings of kanji.http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~ik2r-myr/kanji/kanji1a.htm#intro |  |
| Kanji radical hunthttp://learningplace.eq.edu.au/cx/resources/items/906618d3-938c-515a-6cd5-a421ef19eccf/3/ViewIMS.jsp?backto=closeFind all the radicals and kanji hidden around the school. Restricted to The Learning Place members only. Access information here. |  |
| Kanji radical recognitionGo through the dragon temple and answer all the kanji radical recognition quizzes to discover the treasure. http://learningplace.eq.edu.au/cx/resources/items/2258832d-3bc6-11fa-db27-1f331002a8a8/3/ViewIMS.jsp?backto=closeRestricted to The Learning Place members only. Access information here. |  |
| Kanji readingLearn kanji through reading various texts highlighting the kanji.http://www.ajalt.org/kanmana/index_e.html |  |
| Kanji recognitionRead the kanji and find your way through the maze. http://learningplace.eq.edu.au/cx/resources/items/69dba3e3-ac9f-e2e9-db57-dd46f009b51c/2/ViewIMS.jsp?backto=closeRestricted to The Learning Place members only. Access information here. |  |
| Kanji repeaterKanji drilling exercise divided into various levels. Lists of kanji are given in an attached website so that Ss are able to learn the meanings and readings.http://www.unckel.de/kanjirepeater/ |  |
| Kanji stroke order rulesWebsite introducing the kanji stroke order rules includes clear explanations and diagrams.http://www.tofugu.com/guides/guess-kanji-stroke-order/ |  |
| Kanji stroke orderRecognize kanji radicals and put kanji back together again in the correct stroke order. http://learningplace.eq.edu.au/cx/resources/items/b9fcab56-807f-a4fc-6e32-3de61f89583e/2/ViewIMS.jsp?backto=closeRestricted to The Learning Place members only. Access information here. |  |
| Kanji structure recognitionThree different games where students need to recognize the different shapes and radicals.http://learningplace.eq.edu.au/cx/resources/items/1d4c9a11-07b3-94c2-b7da-cc0a7eb5bb0d/2/ViewIMS.jsp?backto=closeRestricted to The Learning Place members only. Access information here. |  |
| Kanji sudoku Various sudoku with Kanji (book for purchase). http://www.lulu.com/au/en/shop/claus-liepke/kanji-sudoku/ebook/product-527503.html |  |
| Kanji videosSee stroke order video and practice reading on and kun yomis. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~kanji/ |  |
| Kanji worksheetsMake kanji worksheets quickly and easily with this kanji worksheet creator. Simply select the kanji and print. Includes meaning in English, On reading and Kun reading.http://jensechu.github.io/kanji/index.html |  |
| Kanji wikiA blog spot where students submit pictures or ideas for remembering kanji.http://tell.fll.purdue.edu/KanjiWiki/ |  |
| Kanji writeSelect from 一年生(year 1) to 六年生(year 6) level kanji. Then practice reading and writing kanji in sentences. http://www.nhk.or.jp/school/kanji/ |  |
Worksheets
Flashcards - KanjiPractice kanji using these cards.Donated by E Cataloni | kanji_cards | | File Size: | 13 kb | | File Type: | docx |
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Kanji gridsStudents complete the grid, with English meanings, with the appropriate kanji from the box.Donated by K Anabuki | kanji_grids.docx | | File Size: | 15 kb | | File Type: | docx |
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Template - kanji practiseTemplate for creating kanji practise pages for students.Donated by N Cooper | kanji_practice_template.docx | | File Size: | 202 kb | | File Type: | docx |
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Test - kanjiSs read hiragana sentences and change the hiragana into kanji. (Based on year 10 Japanese)Donated by Y Yao | kanji_test.docx | | File Size: | 25 kb | | File Type: | docx |
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| Worksheets - kanjihttp://www.jakka.net/Hundreds of free to download kanji worksheets. With clear stoke order, tracing and writing activities. |  |
| Worksheets - kanji by gradeList of printable kanji worksheets. Grouped by grade level.http://www.basic-japanese.com/KanjiIndizes/kanjiIndex_GradeFull_StrokeCount.html |  |
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