Kanji number frieze
Overview
Purpose
To recognise and pronounce numbers 1–19 written in kanji and be able to teach at least one word to others.
Learning outcomes
To identify:
- kanji numbers
- their associated sounds.
Skills used
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
Related units in Hai! kit
- Unit 10 Kazoku wa nan nin desu ka
Type
Individual, pair, group, or class activity
Instructions
In this activity, the class makes an alphabet frieze for display in the classroom. The finished product not only acts as a constant reminder of the numbers, but also provides students with visual examples of a variety of vocabulary.
Materials
- A5-sized paper (half A4) – this an ideal size for the numbers in the frieze.
- Magazines containing suitable picture (for students who can't draw).
- Number template, which shows how the number pages could be formatted. To download the template, select from the following Word or PDF formats:
Steps
- Allocate at least one word from the alphabet list to each student.
- Students colour in the kanji and draw a picture that depicts their number, such as five apples or seven cats. If drawing is difficult for some students, provide them with magazines from which to cut out pictures.
- Students write the word below in hiragana or roomaji, so the others can practise saying it.
- Working in pairs or small groups, students teach their number to others, using their picture as a prop.
- When they are confident, students teach their word to the whole class.
Tips
- Ask students to make their pictures fill all the space in the page, so that the image is easily recognisable from a distance.
- This works well as homework activity.
Variations
- Before putting the alphabet frieze on display, students enjoy seeing their work used as flashcards. Cover (or fold back) the hiragana/roomaji and see which group or individual can correctly pronounce the number.
- Divide class into teams, and have them stand in line. One student traces or 'back writes' a kanji number onto the first student's back. When the student thinks they know which kanji it is, they then go to get the correct card at the front and say the number aloud before the other team.
- Give the cards out muddled up and students have to sort them into the correct order.
Further learning
- Practice writing the numbers with ink and brushes.
- Make multi-sided dice (such as dodecagons) with kanji numbers, and use the dice to play board games.
- Practice writing telephone numbers in kanji.
Language to use
When using the class set of drawings as flash cards, use these questions:
- Nan ban desuka.
What number is this? - Kore wa nan desu ka.
What is this? - Nihongo de nan desu ka.
What is this in Japanese?