The article "Japan in Spring: Top Wildlife Spectacles and Species to See" from BBC's Discover Wildlife explores the diverse wildlife of Japan during the cherry blossom season. From whooper swans and Japanese macaques to red-crowned cranes and cherry blossoms, Japan offers a rich array of species and natural spectacles across its various climatic zones.
In Did Two Atomic Bombs Really End the War in Japan?, historian Lucy Worsley learns how Harry S. Truman came to office in 1945. World War II had ended in Europe, but Americans were still fighting in Japan. The official story was that the two atomic bombs ended the war in Japan. This video is excerpted from BBC's American History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley, in which Worsley reveals the myths and manipulations behind American history.
In The Go Jetters Speed Through Japan on the Bullet Train, the Go Jetters crew is waiting for a Shinkansen, a Japanese bullet train. Ubercorn shares funky facts about how fast bullet trains travel and how they are an environmentally friendly way to travel. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Go Jetters, a series that follows the adventures of four international heroes as they travel the globe visiting landmarks and solving environmental problems with Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn.
In The Go Jetters and the Snowy Mountains of Japan, the Go Jetters crew heads to the snowy mountains of Japan! At Jigokudani Monkey Park, snow monkeys relax in hot springs to stay warm during the icy winters. These warm pools are like nature’s hot tubs, thanks to heat bubbling up from deep underground! Plus, every group of snow monkeys has a special leader to guide them through the snow. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Go Jetters, a series that follows the adventures of four plucky international heroes as they travel the globe visiting the world’s most famous landmarks with their friend and mentor, Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn.
Discover the islands, traditions, and history of Japan with this one-page fact file for Grades 3–8. Students will explore Japan’s geography, history, culture, wildlife, and government while learning about volcanic islands, mountain landscapes, traditional customs, unique wildlife, modern cities, and important moments from Japan’s past and present.
You can use this fact file to:
- Introduce a geography or social studies unit
- Support nonfiction reading practice
- Compare countries and cultures
- Complete map and research activities
- Prepare students for projects or presentations (use our country report template!)
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
In A Hierarchy of Japanese Macaques, these monkeys native to Japan are trying to survive the harsh Japanese winter. They seek out a thermal spa, then primate politics comes into play. This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
In Oppenheimer’s Atomic Bombs and the End of World War II, host Andrew Marr describes how J. Robert Oppenheimer developed the technology to end World War II with two atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Before the bombs were dropped, Oppenheimer calculated how to drop them to create the most damage. After the war was over, Oppenheimer felt conflicted about the creation of the bombs. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In The Ritual of Bonsai, a bonsai sensei enjoys the ritual and tradition of cultivating bonsai trees. This video is excerpted from BBC's Extraordinary Rituals, a documentary produced by BBC Natural History that explores how humans mark major life moments through ceremonies and traditions.
In The Unique Mating Habits of the Kobudai, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes the unique mating habits of the kobudai, a species whose largest females can change sexes. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
The article "Top 10 Biggest Statues in the World" from BBC's Science Focus explores the tallest statues globally, ranging from the Statue of Unity in India to the Dai Kannon of Kita no Miyako Park in Japan.
In Salamanders on the Hunt, narrator Sir David Attenborough joins the world’s largest amphibian on its nighttime hunt. Learn how sensory nodes make up for its poor eyesight as it searches for prey. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Meet the Mudskipper, a Fish Out of Water, narrator Sir David Attenborough introduces the mudskipper, a fish like no other! These fascinating creatures can breathe air, walk on land, and dig deep tunnels in the mud to create safe homes and egg chambers. Plus, male mudskippers leap high into the air to impress females and fiercely defend their territory from rivals!. This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
The article "Japan in Spring: Top Wildlife Spectacles and Species to See" from BBC's Discover Wildlife explores the diverse wildlife of Japan during the cherry blossom season. From whooper swans and Japanese macaques to red-crowned cranes and cherry blossoms, Japan offers a rich array of species and natural spectacles across its various climatic zones.
In Did Two Atomic Bombs Really End the War in Japan?, historian Lucy Worsley learns how Harry S. Truman came to office in 1945. World War II had ended in Europe, but Americans were still fighting in Japan. The official story was that the two atomic bombs ended the war in Japan. This video is excerpted from BBC's American History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley, in which Worsley reveals the myths and manipulations behind American history.
In The Go Jetters Speed Through Japan on the Bullet Train, the Go Jetters crew is waiting for a Shinkansen, a Japanese bullet train. Ubercorn shares funky facts about how fast bullet trains travel and how they are an environmentally friendly way to travel. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Go Jetters, a series that follows the adventures of four international heroes as they travel the globe visiting landmarks and solving environmental problems with Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn.
In The Go Jetters and the Snowy Mountains of Japan, the Go Jetters crew heads to the snowy mountains of Japan! At Jigokudani Monkey Park, snow monkeys relax in hot springs to stay warm during the icy winters. These warm pools are like nature’s hot tubs, thanks to heat bubbling up from deep underground! Plus, every group of snow monkeys has a special leader to guide them through the snow. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Go Jetters, a series that follows the adventures of four plucky international heroes as they travel the globe visiting the world’s most famous landmarks with their friend and mentor, Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn.
Discover the islands, traditions, and history of Japan with this one-page fact file for Grades 3–8. Students will explore Japan’s geography, history, culture, wildlife, and government while learning about volcanic islands, mountain landscapes, traditional customs, unique wildlife, modern cities, and important moments from Japan’s past and present.
You can use this fact file to:
- Introduce a geography or social studies unit
- Support nonfiction reading practice
- Compare countries and cultures
- Complete map and research activities
- Prepare students for projects or presentations (use our country report template!)
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
In A Hierarchy of Japanese Macaques, these monkeys native to Japan are trying to survive the harsh Japanese winter. They seek out a thermal spa, then primate politics comes into play. This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
In Oppenheimer’s Atomic Bombs and the End of World War II, host Andrew Marr describes how J. Robert Oppenheimer developed the technology to end World War II with two atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Before the bombs were dropped, Oppenheimer calculated how to drop them to create the most damage. After the war was over, Oppenheimer felt conflicted about the creation of the bombs. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In The Ritual of Bonsai, a bonsai sensei enjoys the ritual and tradition of cultivating bonsai trees. This video is excerpted from BBC's Extraordinary Rituals, a documentary produced by BBC Natural History that explores how humans mark major life moments through ceremonies and traditions.
In The Unique Mating Habits of the Kobudai, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes the unique mating habits of the kobudai, a species whose largest females can change sexes. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
The article "Top 10 Biggest Statues in the World" from BBC's Science Focus explores the tallest statues globally, ranging from the Statue of Unity in India to the Dai Kannon of Kita no Miyako Park in Japan.
In Salamanders on the Hunt, narrator Sir David Attenborough joins the world’s largest amphibian on its nighttime hunt. Learn how sensory nodes make up for its poor eyesight as it searches for prey. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Meet the Mudskipper, a Fish Out of Water, narrator Sir David Attenborough introduces the mudskipper, a fish like no other! These fascinating creatures can breathe air, walk on land, and dig deep tunnels in the mud to create safe homes and egg chambers. Plus, male mudskippers leap high into the air to impress females and fiercely defend their territory from rivals!. This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.