Michelle Watson

Professor Cliver
Hist 311
4 December 2017
Lesson Plan 3
Length of class period/lesson plan: A 60-minute lesson

Topic: Heian Period Japan

Organizing theme: The life and times of the Japanese during the Heian period.
State Standards Addressed: This lesson is on the Japanese during the Heian Period and it
covers standards for 7th grade 7.5.3.6: Research, Evidence, and Point of View; 3. Students
distinguish relevant from irrelevant information, essential from incidental information, and
verifiable from unverifiable information in historical narratives and stories.
- Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures
of the civilizations of Medieval Japan.
- 3. Describe the values, social customs, and traditions prescribed by the lord-vassal
system consisting of shogun, daimyo, and samurai and the lasting influence of the
warrior code in the twentieth century.
- 6. Analyze the rise of a military society in the late twelfth century and the role of the
samurai in that society.
Resources needed:
 School textbook (provided by school)
 Computers for each student
 Printer paper (as needed)
 Pens, pencils, colored pencils, markers (as needed)
Introductory “Hook”: Ask the students what they know about Japanese society and the culture.
What is the everyday life like for the different people? Have a class discussion. (5-10 minutes)
Transition: In Japan during the Heian period, life was a little different.

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Lesson content:
 In-class activities:
- Students will come to class having read the chapter in the school textbook on the
Japanese Heian period. (Notes on the topic will have been assigned the class
beforehand)
- Students will research in the textbook and/or the computers on the daily life and the
types of people in Japan during the Heian period. (15 minutes)
- Must include information about Samurai, Shoguns, daimyo, and Bushido
- Students will then make a comic book depicting the story of the society or through
the eyes of a specific type of person during said period and their everyday life
- This part of the activities should take about 30-35 minutes
 This lesson teaches the students about the society and culture of the Japanese during the
Heian Period. It allows students to be creative, cultivate their writing and artistic skills,
and for them to see a different way of life than what they know or assume.
Conclusion: At the end of the lesson, a class discussion will be had about what the students
learned that day. This will help the students to review what they have learned and maybe add
more to their lists of information to help with their assignment. (5-10 minutes)
Assessment: To assess the students’ knowledge, the students will have a homework assignment
that is due the following class period. This assignment will require the students to write up an
explanation on what is happening in their comic book and how it pertains to what they learned
about the society and culture of the Japanese during the Heian period. The written explanation
should be about one page long, typed, single spaced, size 12 font, and with Times New Roman
font.

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*Hein Period Japan Assignmen
In-class:
With the given time, look up (in the textbook and/or on the computer) the different types of
people and the lifestyle, culture, and essentially the everyday life of the Japanese people during
the Heian period. Make sure to include samurai, shoguns, Bushido, and daimyo. With the notes
that you take from your research and from your reading (that should have already been done),
make a comic book. Your comic book should depict the story of the society or through the eyes
of a specific type of person during said period and their everyday life.
Homework:
Any unfinished comic books may be taken home to finish. Write a description of your comic
book explaining what is happening and how it relates to/what you learned about the Japanese
people and society/culture during the Heian period. This written assignment should be about one
page in length, typed, single spaced, 12 size font, and in Times New Roman. This will be due the
next class period.

Criteria Ratings Pts

Discussion participation Full Marks No Marks

5.0 pts
5.0 pts 0 pts

Comic Book Meets Room for Significant No Marks

expectations improvement issues 10.0
pts
10.0 pts 7.5 pts 4.5 pts 0 pts

Written explanation of the comic book Meets Room for Significant No Marks 5.0 pts
expectations improvement issues
0.0 pts
5.0 pts 3.0 pts 1.5 pts

Total Points: 20.0

pts

Bibliography:

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California State Board of Education. “History-Social Science Content Standards for California
Public Schools K-12.” www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/histsocscistnd.pdf.
Duiker, William J., and Jackson J. Spielvogel. “Chapter 1 Early Humans and the First
Civilizations P.307-312.” World History: Volume 1: to 1800, Wadsworth/Thomson
Learning, 2010.