2+Shoshika


 * Lesson 2: ** Shoshika - birth rate in Japan

**Goal:**Students will understand current social issues and policies concerning fewer children analyze these issues and compare the situations in Japan with other countries.

Students will be able to explain what shoshika (少子化)is and think critically about the reasons why people are facing this problem now. Students will be able to understand the issues of fewer children and policies. Students will analyze and compare the situations in Japan and the U.S. Students will think about how lower birth rate is affecting our society. They will also think about the reasons why this is occurring now.
 * Expected Outcome:**

1.1 Interpersonal Communication 1.2 Interpretive Communication 1.3 Presentational Communication 2.1 Practices of Culture 3.2 Acquiring New Information 4.2 Cultural Comparisons
 * Target Standards****:**


 * Activities****:**

(In a language lab, students make groups of 3 students.) Step 1: 1) Look at the graph of birth rate from 1947 to 2008 in Japan. Answer the questions, such as what was the birth rate in 2008, which year had the highest birth rate. || Checking answers || 1.2 4.2 || 少子化、新聞記事、 減る、 〜減、労働力の低下、既婚者、 未婚者、人口減少、 社会、原因、出生率、 産む、共ばたらき、 厚生労働省、手当 || 45 minutes (1 class) || 1) Warm-up: Vocabulary check (learned in Step 1) ||  ||   ||   || 10 minutes || -Think about the reasons why the low birth rate is creating problems in our society. -Organize what you have learned by using a graphic organizer in a group. ||  || 1.1 1.2 2.1 3.2 4.2 ||   || 25 minutes || -Exchange ideas and opinions with other groups. ||  || 1.1 2.1 || 意見、理想 〜と思います. 〜てくれたらと思います. || 20 minutes (1class) || 1) Make a newsletter for Shoshika awareness. 2) Create a group WIki and post a newsletter. Post feedback to each group.
 * = Activity ||= Assessment ||= Target Standard || Grammar/ Vocabulary || Time ||
 * 1. Take about the birth rate in U.S. in the class. ||  ||   ||   || 10 minutes ||
 * 2. WebQuest Activity
 * Step 2:
 * 2) Reflect and discuss
 * 3) Discussion
 * Step 3

Example of former student ||  || 1.2 1.3 ||   || 55 minutes (1class) ||