Curriculum Units

The (TEA), the University of Colorado Boulder’s professional development program on East Asia for K-12 teachers, has developed award-winning curriculum units, many of which are available free online to teachers.  Currently available are:

Journey to the Interior

Matsuo Bashō is known internationally today for his haiku, yet this seventeenth-century Japanese poet was not a "haiku" poet. Journey to the Interior offers a curriculum for K-12 teachers and students:

  • to develop a deeper understanding of haikai and haiku;
  • to learn more about the life of Matsuo Bashō;
  • to engage in writing the forms of poetry, prose, and art composed by Matsuo Bashō; and
  • to make connections to the time and space in which Matsuo Bashō lived, travelled, and wrote.

Explore the "Elementary," "Middle School," and "High School" links on the right-hand navigation to learn more.

The American Association of Teachers of Japanese represents and serves teachers of Japanese at all levels of instruction and in all types of learning settings. It is an international, non-profit, non-political organization of individuals and institutions seeking to promote the study of Japanese language, linguistics, literature, culture, and pedagogy. The Association fosters professional development and the exchange of research, and seeks to coordinate its activities with related organizations to promote Japanese studies. Included on their website are curriculum materials for Japanese language teachers. Click on the link above for more information.