Humanities Field Trip

WE'VE SHIFTED!

2009-06-30T06:35:00.000-07:00

WE'VE SHIFTED!

We will no longer be posting at this website.
Please go to http://hillgrovehumanities.blogspot.com

Thankyou! :)

Japan 2009 Info Sheet (March 05)

2009-03-05T06:34:00.001-08:00

Hillgrove Secondary School

Humanities & Science Department

Japan Fieldtrip June 2009

Objectives

1. To create a new platform for Experiential Learning outside the classroom, bringing students into contact with a different culture and community, using Japan as a basis for multiple-disciplinary learning.

2. To use the rich geographical, historical and cultural setting of Japan as a reference point for application of classroom knowledge and to apply the school values during the conduct of the trip.

Highlights of Itinerary

Fukuoka -> Hiroshima -> Osaka

Some areas of interest and activities: Minamata Bay, Mount Aso, Hiroshima Peace Park, Osaka Airport, factory visit, school exchange

Selection Criteria

To apply, all interested pupils must submit the following

(A) In a file/scrapbook

Personal Particulars – Name, Class, Register no., Date of Birth, Nationality, Residential address, Telephone no (home and handphone if applicable), Email address

Photocopy of Results: 2008 Sec 2 overall & 2009 Common Test 1 result slip

Letter of persuasion (300 words) – tell us about your strengths, how you can contribute towards the success of the trip and how you can make use of your experience in Japan

(B) Artefact writeup on A4 paper

Select one item of your choice. It must be related to either a traditional or modern Japanese household
- Eg. Kimono, tea set for tea ceremony, futon, Sony radio etc.
Research on the item and write a 500-word essay outlining the history and significance of this item.
Create the artefact in any form (3D)

– the item will be displayed in a “Japanese household”.

Eg. Paper mache, origami
Use your creativity!
Recycled material and resources would be best
Remember to label the artefact with your name and class

Assessment (Humanities)

Artefact Essay 20 marks

Artefact 30 marks

Letter of persuasion (impression of you) 10 marks

Pupils are to create a poster on the Atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The poster must include the following research:

Effects of nuclear radiation
Consequences of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima
Explanation of half-life
Relationship between half-life and effects of nuclear radiation

The poster must be:

at least 80 cm by 50 cm large
created using a HARD cardboard
entries must be hand written (Do not paste pre typed wordings on the poster). Writing must be neat and legible.
be original artwork created by the student

Marking Rubrics (Science)

Your poster will be marked according to the following rubrics.

Category	4	3	2	1
Knowledge	Physics concepts are fully and properly explained.	Physics concepts are adequately explained.	Physics concepts are poorly explained.	No analysis of physics concepts.
	Content is accurate, comprehensive and well supported.	Content is quite accurate.	Content is wrong and there is misinterpretations.	No explanations provided.
	Excellent use of resources and references.	More than five resources and references used.	More than three resources and references used.	No use of resources and references.
Attractiveness	The poster is exceptionally attractive in terms of design, layout, and neatness.	The poster is attractive in terms of design, layout and neatness.	The poster is acceptably attractive though it may be a bit messy.	The poster is distractingly messy or very poorly designed. It is not attractive.
Drawing	Originality Drawing shows exceptional degree of student creativity in their creation and/or display.	Drawings on the poster reflect student creativity in their creation and/or display.	The drawings are made by the student, but are based on the designs or ideas of others.	Drawings show no creativity.

We will also form an understanding of you through:

Your academic performance (Sec 2 overall and Sec 3 CT1)
Recommendations from Discipline teachers, Form-teachers, Subject teachers, CCA teachers and the Humanities Department

Important dates

Submit your application and projects on 1st April 2009 230pm in the Humanities Workroom (4th floor next to Seminar Room).

Strictly no extension.

Results will be released on 8th April 2009 on the Humanities noticeboard.

Interviews may be conducted for shortlisted candidates, should the response be overwhelming.

If you choose to apply and you are selected for the trip, you are expected to complete the following punctually and responsibly.

Pre-Fieldtrip preparation

Create show-and-tell booklet

Group project – video clip on Hillgrove + presentation to Japanese school

Pre-fieldtrip reading assignments

Fieldtrip expectations

Updating of scrapbook daily

Completion of worksheets

Group presentation

Post-fieldtrip programme

School assembly programme

Photography exhibition/gallery

Teachers to contact if in doubt:

Application/Humanities – Ms Tan Li Bing & Mr Caleb Chua

Science Project – Mrs Jennifer Peng

Visit http://fieldtrip-geo.blogspot.com/

All information will be posted on this page.

Photos

2008-08-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

Story

2008-08-02T07:50:00.001-07:00

Video

2008-08-02T07:07:00.000-07:00

Uproar over film on Yasukuni Shrine (April 12, 2008)

2008-04-21T06:23:00.000-07:00

Uproar over film on Yasukuni Shrine

First it was slammed as being anti-Japanese,
now its lead character says he wanted out

By Kwan Weng Kin, Japan Correspondent

TOKYO - AN AWARD-WINNING documentary on Japan's Yasukuni war shrine is mired in further controversy after an ageing swordsmith claimed that his wish to be axed from the final cut of the film was ignored.

Shot over 10 years, Yasukuni the film was originally scheduled to begin screening in Japan today. But it ran into problems in February when a group of lawmakers asked to preview the movie after a weekly magazine branded it as an 'anti-Japanese' production funded by Japanese taxpayers.

The lawmakers said they wanted to see if it was appropriate for the movie to have received a 7.5 million yen (S$100,500) grant from the Japan Arts Council.

News of the preview generated so much negative press that last month, theatres decided not to show the movie after they received threatening calls from right-wing groups, which wanted the screenings to be cancelled.

It has now run into another hitch, with Japan's oldest-living swordsmith Naoji Kariya voicing unhappiness over his part in the movie.

'The movie was not what I had expected it to be when I was asked to be filmed. I never thought I would become entangled in the Yasukuni issue,' he told local media.

In the documentary, Mr Kariya reveals mixed feelings about World War II and the Yasukuni Shrine, but previews on the movie have so far been vague about what he says exactly.

The shrine is viewed by Asian countries as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism because it honours both Japan's war dead as well as Class A war criminals.

In recent years, visits to the shrine by then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had clouded Japan's ties with China and South Korea.

Tokyo-based Chinese director Li Ying told a press conference on Thursday that Mr Kariya had agreed to be included in the movie, which is simply entitled Yasukuni.

He said he was perplexed as to why the 90-year-old swordsmith had now apparently changed his mind.

He said that when he visited Mr Kariya, who lives in Kochi prefecture, western Japan, in February, the latter had expressed uneasiness over the movie, but after a long conversation, Mr Kariya left Mr Li with the parting words: 'Do your best for the screening.'

The first hint of Mr Kariya's change of heart came when ruling party lawmaker Haruko Arimura wrote on her website that she had said at an Upper House committee on March 27 that Mr Kariya had told her he wanted his scenes removed from the movie.

Mr Li, who had not heard directly from Mr Kariya, said: 'I wonder what kind of pressure the lawmaker applied to get Mr Kariya to change his mind to that extent. I wonder if she is allowed to do that.'

In a statement released by her office, Ms Arimura denied applying any pressure on the swordsmith.

Removing Mr Kariya from the movie would destroy it, said Mr Li. 'If the movie cannot stand, of course we cannot screen it. Is that her aim?' he asked.

The movie received an award for best documentary at the Hongkong International Film Festival last month. Following the furore, only about 20 theatres in Japan plan to screen it, in May or later.

LAST OF 'YASUKUNI SWORD' MAKERS
THE 123-minute documentary is centred on swordsmith Naoji Kariya, who reveals mixed feelings about World War II and the Yasukuni Shrine.

He is billed as the last in a line of swordsmiths who make the so-called 'Yasukuni Swords' that are said to embody the spirits of the dead.

(CONTROVERSIAL FILM: Mr Kariya, Japan's oldest-living swordsmith, revealed mixed feelings about World War II and Yasukuni. -- PHOTO: DRAGON FILMS)