2024 Arts Week – Japan

Churcher’s College Junior School and Nursery ended a busy Spring Term with a Japanese themed Arts Week.  The children learned about different cultures and practices in Japan, with a special focus on the Japanese festival of Hanami. 

The staff worked creatively to weave the Japanese theme into the curriculum in many different ways, from Sumo in PE to learning about tea ceremonies, looking closely at the elegance and size of the teacups and then making and decorating pottery teacups.   The infants learned how to complete Sudoku puzzles using coloured counters, which they then transferred to numbers. They also impressed us all showing how they can count in Japanese up to twenty-two and paint the numbers using thin brushes and black paint.  Several classes studied and wrote their own Haiku poems, carefully following the rules (first line - five syllables, second line - seven syllables, third line - five syllables). Many children enjoyed a special Japanese Music lesson with Mrs Stirling and Year 4 were challenged to set their Haiku poem to music. Language lessons got in the spirit adapting lessons to enable the children to learn some Japanese, certainly a change from French or Spanish!

We were also delighted to welcome several special guests during Arts Week, including artists and musicians. We would like to say a particular thank you to EarthSong for an amazing music workshop learning about the discipline of drumming, beautifully resourced with parasols and fans. We enjoyed a visit from local artist Sharon Hurst, who worked with children in Year 2 and Year 6 to produce the most beautiful silk paintings. Sharon taught them all about silk and the techniques used to paint and create designs on the material. 

Years 4 and 5 were inspired by a visiting chef from local company Little Fishes Sushi in the Sticks and the children learnt how to create their own sushi. One of our wonderful parents and her Year 6 child taught Years 1 ,2 and 3 some challenging origami models. The origami created much excitement, as they were taught to make shuriken, which many of the children were familiar with from Ninjago.

Churcher’s piano teacher Mrs Hiroko-Banks  taught Years 5 and 6 calligraphy and the children experienced life in a Japanese classroom.   Churcher’s Art teacher, Mrs Foley inspired pupils starting a new Art project which will result in a piano being decorated with cherry blossom, children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 will create pottery cherry blossoms over the coming weeks that will form part of this piece of art, we cannot wait to see it finished! The week concluded with a delicious Japanese themed lunch enjoyed by staff and pupils.