2. The Physical and Geographic Features of Japan Standard 7.5: Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious and social structures of the civilizations of Medieval Japan. Preview: Think of a favorite food item that you love to eat. Explain why you love eating that food so much.

3. Objectives: Content Objective: 1. Identify how Japan was influenced by its geography, weather and neighboring countries. Language Objective: 1. SWBAT write guided notes and draw visual representations. 2. On a map, SWBAT label geographic features of the islands of Japan

4. Key Concepts/ Vocabulary Staple Crop: Crop essential to a culture. Terrace Farming: Technique used to grow crops in mountainous areas. Buddhism: Religion which originated in India and spread to Asia. RiceBeansCorn = Tortillas

5. The Islands of Japan 1. Japan is a chain of islands that stretches North to South in the Pacific Ocean. Hokkaido Honshu Shikoku Kyushu

6. The Landscape 2. The islands of Japan are mountaintops that rise from the floor of the ocean. The largest volcano of Japan is Mount Fuji.

7. Natural Disasters 3. Every year Japan is devastated by earthquakes, typhoons and volcanic eruptions.

8. The Economy 4. Very little of Japan’s land is farmable. Only 20% of the land is flat. 5. Many people settled in coastal villages to fish for food.

9. Rice is a staple-crop of Asia Rice 6. Early people who migrated from China and Korea brought with them the knowledge of growing rice. 7. Plenty of rain allows rice to be the number one crop of Japan. Terrace Farming along a mountain side of a Japanese village.

10. Chinese Contributions 8. Japan borrows the Chinese writing style by the late 500’s. 9. The religion of Buddhism is also introduced by the Chinese.

11. Summary/ Response Question: How different would life be if the city of Fresno was located on an island with many mountains? How would you adapt to this lifestyle?