Birds of Yokosuka--updated links

This is an older post, but I noticed that some of the links are broken.  I am unable to update the original post, so here is a new one. 

I remember that one of the first things I saw out the window of the Navy Lodge our first morning in Yokosuka was a pair of cormorants flying just above the water. It seemed like something out of an exotic children's story. Then when my husband walked us around to show us the base, I couldn't keep my eyes off of the huge raptors that were perched on poles and buildings around the base. But identifying the birds here can be a bit tricky. 

The library has a couple copies of Birds of Japan, which is sadly out of print and hard to find used. Birds of East Asia is a newer book, but it is both big and a little expensive for casual users. But I have found a nice website, created by a local geography teacher that includes a section on the Birds of Yokosuka 

One of our friends printed the bird ID section as a handout for scouts who had to do some bird watching. It was nice to only have a few pages instead of a huge book. I have seen some other birds out at the campgrounds at Ikego, notably Common Kingfishers and Spot Bill Ducks. 

Winter 2016 Co-op Opportunities

KPHS is currently offering the following co-op classes and activities:

On Wednesdays in Ikego, we meet for Karate. Starting on February 9, 2016, we will begin to offer a Little Learners Playgroup at 0915-0945. There will be more information on this opportunity soon! This will be an activity based, interactive craft and story time for the preschool to 2nd grade age range.  A group will be created on Facebook to keep you informed!

On Friday afternoons we gather together for Zoology, Chemistry, Chess Club and Shakespeare. The meeting places will vary so it is important to check the KPHS Members page each week for the location details.

You are welcome to participate in all, some, or none of these classes as you see fit for your family. We have so many talented members who are willing to give their time to our kids and it's really exciting. If you have talent or class opportunity you would like to share, please let us know. As you know, we are not a school, so parent involvement and presence is something we rely on.

Membership is required prior to co-op participation and membership must be renewed every year, $20 per family.

Other base-wide activities available:

At the community center on Main Base and Ikego Base there are many classes offered from piano to taiko drumming and Kumon math to Japanese. Please visit their site for up to date information:
navyMWRyokosuka.com

On Fridays in Yokosuka the homeschool community has been offered an exciting opportunity at Purdy Gym called Swim and Gym for ages 5 and up.

There are many other activities for ages 4 and below. For example there is Library Storytime on Monday in Ikego; on Wednesday and Friday on Main Base. There is a Facebook group for playgroups, Stroller Warriors and many more. The Purdy Gym offers Child Watch on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. There is also various Youth Sports Activities starting age 3 and up. We ask you to please use the Kanto Plains Homeschool group on Facebook to gather more information as these opportunities are constantly changing.

Book List

KPHS is taking on a new project.  What started as trying to find some books on a particular subject, has become a spreadsheet of books on various topics dealing not only with Japan, but also other parts of Asia too.  I see this being a fantastic resource and would love to hear your ideas and suggestions to add to it. Perhaps we can expand it to other areas and subjects as well.  Please contact us with your additions or comments.

Are you prepared?

March 11 marks the 4^th anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake. It's hard to believe that day was four years ago. I remember it all like it was just a few weeks ago, not years. My son had just come home from school and was telling his brother about his day. I was on the couch reading a book when I felt the first vibrations. The boys didn't believe me when I said there was an earthquake. Unlike other earthquakes though, this one didn't stop. Instead it kept picking up, getting stronger and stronger. We had already been living in Japan a couple of years and are from California, we’re familiar with earthquakes. This was SO different. The power went out and cell service was out. We stayed inside and rode out the aftershocks. Several minutes after, my husband finally came home—he had just left work when the shaking began. Meeting the neighbors outside, we heard the tsunami sirens. Such a scary time, but at least we were all together. The following days were full of unknown, rolling blackouts, and mass confusion.  Would we stay in Japan? Evacuate somewhere? A couple weeks later, we found ourselves on a plane to the US.

Are you prepared for an emergency situation? Japan is home to not just the earthquakes, but also typhoons. Last winter was unseasonable cold and we had a couple rather large snowstorms--one of which shut down nearly all transportation. There were some people walking miles in the snow!

Living overseas, we are a community that travels often. Our children probably have more airport experience than most adults. Odd hour flights, long layovers, delays. How do you spend your time in airports? We then find ourselves in countries where we don't know the language.

Last week I was talking to a friend and fellow homeschool mom. We somehow got on the subject of being prepared, and I was so impressed with what she does that I thought it needed to be shared. It just made sense! (And I'm sorry to say, even after our experiences, we haven't changed anything.) Each of her children have backpacks with a ziplock that contains contact information along with personal hygiene items and small snacks.

When flying they include an additional ziplock with changes of clothes should there be delays or lost luggage—that would have helped when our baggage took a side trip to a different airport from us.
List of Bag Contents

All of this seems so simple and easy. It's something to get our children in the practice now. I do carry a small bag with me wherever I go that contains medications, lotion, and sunscreen, but I never thought to make sure my kids carry something similar should they find themselves in need. That will be changing.

How have you prepared your family? What things do you do when you travel? PCS season and summer travel is approaching, please prepare.  

Using PDF Files in my Home School

I'm really happy that so many texts are now available as PDF.  I love the freedom of being able to just print out the pages I need, as many times as I need them.  It's been especially useful now that I'm on round two with much of our curriculum. However, technology has started to change the way I've been thinking about using the PDF files.  For one, my child is forever losing the sheets I print out, or they become a wrinkled mess.  This leads to much frustration on the part of all of us.

Now that we have iPads, I've been looking into ways to utilize them more.  The kids never seem to lose their iPad or wrinkle it up.  So I've come across a few apps and I'm giving it a try.

App #1: Dropbox:  Dropbox is a fantastic file sharing app.  You can access your documents, files, or photos from just about any device.  It also makes it easy to share documents through its public folder.  You upload your file here and it creates a link that you can then share out.  You get two gigs of free storage, so it'll manage even your largest of files. We have found it useful for the kids to save their compositions into Dropbox so they can easily edit or print them from other computers.

App #2 Notability: Notability is another app that allows you to create notes and annotate those PDF files. It's not free, but at $2.99, and often on sale, it won't break the bank either--much cheaper than a ream of paper and ink!  It works along with Dropbox to get those files onto your iPad and make them more than just readable files.  You can use Notability to mark up and highlight, fill in blanks, you name it.  I recently uploaded my son's daily grammar work into Dropbox, and then used the import function on Notability to bring the file into the app.  Using a stylus, he can now use his favorite color to do his work, without all that wasted ink and paper.  No more loose pages anywhere! There will never be an excuse again for not knowing where his work is and if it's been done.

We are still working out the bugs, but I have great hope that these two apps will really help us out this year. To give some more instruction and insight, I've found this blog entry that really goes into detail. How are you using your iPads, tablets, or Kindles in your home school?  Do you have a clever way to utilize technology and school work?

House Hunting in Yokosuka

It's that time of year again, PCS season! One of the first thoughts one has when moving is “where am I going to live?”  When you’re cramped in the Navy Lodge, it’s also one of the first things you want to take care of.  Last year, CFAY changed their housing policy and made it mandatory for all military to live on base, unless quarters were not available.  Civilians no longer have the option of getting base housing or living “out in town;” civilians are automatically out in town.  It’s also become mandatory for civilians currently living on base to move off base, once they've been in base housing for five years.

So how does the process of finding your Japanese house work? First, unlike the US, you are not faithful to just one realtor.  Here, houses are only assigned to one agency.  This means you’re better off working with several different realtors in order to see as much out there as you can. The housing office has books of listings, but it really is much easier to go and find someone to show you what they have available and meet your needs, rather than hunting through pages of what looks like a foreign language.  Have a list of your wants, must-haves, and go from there. Ask your friends, or KPHS, for realtor recommendations. Many of our members live out in town, or have lived out in town. As for fining the agents, just walk out either of the gates, you can't miss them! Look at the houses they have posted and see if any interest you.

What do you want? This is where it gets tricky.  What you consider “normal” in an American home, is often completely unheard of here.  Master baths?  Probably not going to happen.  Dishwashers, few and far between. Large rooms and living spaces, maybe.  To be honest, the houses you look at may not even have ovens.  But there’s always the exception and it seems most agents and landlords are willing to work with you.  Don’t be afraid to ask, as it could be negotiated into the lease.  Houses here do tend to be much smaller by American standards, but layout and hidden storage can make all the difference. Just remember, this will be your home for the next few years.

In the past few years there has been an increase in Western-style homes.  These tend to have better equipped kitchens and hardwood floors.  In the more traditional homes, the Japanese don’t sleep in beds, but on futons on the tatami floor. These are bed rolls that are folded up during the day and stored—not American futons that you’re used to seeing. Thus closets are also very different.  Some older houses have been “westernized” and have had the tatami replaced with hardwood or even carpet, but the odd-sized closets are still there.  This is something you’ll want to pay attention to.  Some houses may have one or two tatami rooms, others may be entirely tatami.  These need to be treated carefully as you’ll be responsible for any damage.  Many just put carpets over them.  Also be aware if you have serious grass allergies, as this could be a problem. When talking to the agents, they’ll talk to you about room size in number “tatami mats,” even if there is no tatami.

Japanese futons on tatami floors

Location, location, location.  How do you even know where you want to live when you have no idea where anything is? Where are the good areas?  Where are the bad?  Even if you don’t plan on using the trains, keep public transit in mind.  You may have friends who want to visit, but no extra parking. Your house may only have one parking space, making you a one-car family, or that parking space may be very small. Using the trains here is so easy and convenient, you probably want to be close to a train station or at least bus stop. How far is the walk to your nearest station?  Is it straight uphill?  Downhill? (There is very little flat land here.) What kind of shops do you have nearby?  Restaurants?  Will bicycling be a mode of transportation?  How will that ride be?  Again, ask around.  There are some heavily American communities close to base.  Further away, you may find yourself the only gaijin in the area.

After questioning KPHS members here are some things they suggested you keep in mind:

• Is the house close to public transit?  Just don't take the word of the agent or what is listed, actually walk to the perspective house from the nearest train station.
• What shops do you have near-by? Check them out, buy some goods. 
• How long is your commute to/from base? A ten minute drive at one hour, can be much longer during commute times.
• Don't jump at the first house you see.  This can be very tempting when you want to get out of that lodge and start really getting settled.  Go back and look again. Take time to make sure it's really what you want.
• Make sure you understand your agent and they understand you.
• How old is the house? Does it have adequate cooling and heating? Do you smell any mold? Feel any drafts around closed windows?
• Any allergies that may affect your comfort? If you have grass allergies, living with tatami or up against a bamboo forest may have its issues.
• Is there space for you to set up your homeschool? Where would you school?
• If you see other Y-plates, go talk to your potential neighbors about their experiences.
• Drop pins in Google Maps so you know where you were.

Part 2 will follow with more specifics on housing features and appliances.

National Mythology Exam

There are several students in KPHS with a love and passion for mythology.  ETC, Excellence through Classics, offers the National Mythology Exam each year and our students were excited to take the test in March. This week we presented our seven participants with their certificates and medals.  We had two silver and one gold amongst the kids!

 The test is available for students in grades 3-12, and it’s the same test for all students.  How much they are required to take, depends on their grade.  Everyone takes the first 30 questions of the test dealing with general Greek and Roman mythology.  The next 10 questions pertain to the theme for the year.  Each year a new theme is assigned and for 2014, it was Transformations. This section must be done by students in 5th grade and up.

The third section of the test deals with the great epics: Odyssey, Iliad, and Aeneid. Again, only one book from each epic is assigned for the year so it’s not overwhelming. Each of these is also 10 questions each, and one is required for grades 6th and up.

Finally, there are several additional tests of ten questions each that pertain to different mythologies: Norse, African, and Native American.  One of these tests may be substituted for the epics for grades 6 and up..

Beyond your assigned tests, anyone can do as many additional tests as they wish.  The only restriction being once the test is started it is graded.  In order to be awarded a medal, one must score above 90%. Except at the 10^th-12^th grades, only gold medals are awarded.  Gold medals are only awarded for perfect scores. 

Next year we hope to have more participants and involvement with the DoDEA schools.  (We had one student from Sullivans participate and she medaled, missing a gold by one question, on a sub-test she didn't even need to do!)  Stay tuned in the fall for the syllabus and registration information for the 2015 National Mythology Exam.  We are also looking to start a Classics Club to help us prepare and share our love and knowledge of things Greek and Roman.

Summer Reading

It's that time of year again! The school year is winding down and summer is fast approaching. Have you picked out your summer reading yet? Are you aware of the programs that are out there that reward your child for the books they read this summer? This week I learned of some great programs and tools to help encourage reading.

You can sign up now and start logging your minutes for the Scholastic Summer Reading program: Reading Under the Stars. They are looking to beat last year's reading record of 176,438,473 minutes! This reading challenge runs May 5 --- September 5, 2014. Scholastic also has age appropriate reading lists to help inspire your child to read something new.

It looks like the MWR Library page is up and running to begin registration for their summer program too. It officially kicks off June 15^th and runs through August 15^th. Even if you are not here this summer, you can still log your books/minutes and pick up your prizes when you return.

I know everyone knows about movie trailers and how excited we get when new movies are being released. Did you know there are book trailers too? These are too cool! The YMS digital resource site has several links to trailers, but you can also search for them online. In Google, put the title of your book in quotes, then follow it with official book trailer. Pinterest and Youtube are also fantastic places to search book titles. Who knew? If your kids have a creative bug, they can even make their own book trailer. YMS has lesson plans for this too. What a fun alternative to the traditional book report.

With all the e-readers out there today, the MWR library offers e-book rentals from Overdrive, for free. There's an app for that! You can download e-books, videos, and audio books to your computer, i-device, tablet, Kindle, or Nook. You will need to go to the library to get an account created for you. Fill out a digital request at the checkout counter, and you will be contacted via e-mail with your log-on information. (It will be a different site from the above Overdrive site.) I heard back the next day and downloaded my first book that afternoon. The MWR library really is an amazing resource and has so much more than meets the eye. Be sure to stop by to learn about all the tools they have, most offered for free!

Finally, maybe you'll be on a trip this summer or lounging by the pool, not wanting a book. Audio books are a great solution. Listen to your favorite book in the car, on a plane, or in a train. I love audio books for those longer, more difficult reads. It's such a wonderful way to introduce your child to the classics, especially with a narrator they might already know. There are multiple sources for audio books including Overdrive and iTunes. My favorite site is Audible. You can purchase individual titles or purchase a subscription that gives you a new audio each month and a discount on other books.

Here are some other Summer Reading Programs. If you're out traveling, check out the local libraries too, as they might offer something. I know our hometown library does a challenge for In-N-Out Burgers! (That one is always a hit with my kids.) Being overseas, and not having some of these options available, get creative and offer your own challenges. On a homeschool message board, I came across a thread where parents were mentioning their ideas. A penny a page, with a goal towards 2000 pages. Read yourself a Lego set: break up a Lego set and offer awards based on pages, minutes, or books. Someone even randomly taped money to the ends of certain books!
Barnes and Noble

Pizza Hut

Applebee's

Book Adventure

Check out Pinterest for even more incredible Summer Reading ideas!

 

Literature Adventure

The KPHS Yokosuka Literature Adventure will be concluding another year shortly. Our reading list this year has been quite varied, and the kids have really enjoyed it. We met with dragons in Dealing with Dragons, the first of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. We discussed if we'd want to live forever, and at what age, after reading Tuck Everlasting. We discussed the classics and mythology with the Aeneid, only to find that the kids much prefer Homer over Virgil. After the New Year, we read a book that really pertains to us as Americans living overseas, Homesick, by Jean Fritz, the fictionalized story of the author's life in China and her move to the US in the 1920s. As a companion work, the parents were encouraged to read Third Culture Kids by David Pollock and Ruth E Van Reken.

This has been a very eye-opening book and thoughtful read. I had so many ah-ha moments while reading it. For this lesson, we put out a small, informal survey to get an idea of how our group compares with others, particularly those at home in the US. We didn't get as many entries as we would have liked, but the information made the kids think. Some of them realized that growing up overseas makes them different, others didn't see the big deal. Pollock and Van Reken define a Third Culture Kid as someone who "spend(s) a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents' culture." I think the biggest impact will occur when these kids move back to the US. I have always found that the reverse culture shock, is so much more difficult to deal with than the initial move. As Ms. Van Reken states in the book:

". . .disappointment was greater because they had always presumed if they could make it 'home,' they would no longer feel so different from others. . . . Friends, relatives, and classmates are shocked at the TCK's ignorance at the most common practices necessary for everyday living. If they were true immigrants, no one would expect them to know all of these things." Pages 227-228

Being in the military world, moving often is common place and moves overseas always a possibility. Summer is approaching and that means PCS season.  Van Reken's comment about being sure to unpack and "plant trees" upon arriving really resonated with me. One can't relax or enjoy life, if you're always looking for that next move. Yes, it can sometimes come faster than expected, but it may not happen for some time either. When I think it about it, we planted our first garden only three years ago. Prior to that, there had always been the thought of why bother, we're just going to move. So yes, she really says to plant trees! Plant something and watch it grow while you're here. Take advantage of all that your host culture has to offer. and perhaps someday you'll be able to return to see the fruits of that tree.  

Do you have any suggestions or advice for a move overseas?  Something you did to help make the transition easier?  What about the "re-entry," how did you deal with those stresses? We'd love to see your comments.

Our Survey Results:

Earthquake Preparedness

It’s been over three years since Japan was hit with the Tohoko earthquake, the “big one.” Last week, Tokyo experienced one of the largest quakes since then and we had another shaker this morning  I’m sure for many who are new to Yokosuka, and have never felt a quake before, it can be quite a scary experience. I know it got my heart racing!  Do you know what to do during an earthquake? Are you prepared to ride one out?

Down in Yokosuka, not far from City Hall, is the area Emergency Preparedness Center. This is a great little facility to check out and learn about disaster preparedness here. Yes, it is all in Japanese, but the pictures are pretty obvious and the staff very helpful.  If you can go with a Japanese speaker, even better.  KPHS took a field trip here last year that was a fantastic experience. 

The facility’s main attraction is the earthquake simulator.  Here you can ride out a 6.5 earthquake and really get a feel for the power of Mother Nature.  Although only a few of the kids were here in 2011 to feel the big one, they all enjoyed the safe experience.  For another few, this was their first time feeling the sensation.

Earthquakes here are frequent.  Some are small, some have been pretty good, such as that last week.  The buildings here are built to sustain large quakes, and that is a comfort to know.  (Down at the Edo Museum in Tokyo, you can see just how they’re built.) It is always a good idea to know your surroundings.  To have flashlights at the ready; be prepared. Check out Ready.gov for earthquake preparation and what to do.  To get information about an earthquake, visit the Japanese Meteorological Agency. This is the picture from today's quake. It was a 4.9 in Chiba.

Intermission

I am sorry the blog has not been updated in so long.  Please know that we are still active and trying to get the blog back in action.  Until then, we can be found on Facebook, under Kanto Plain Home Schoolers.

Online Resources

Our board recently met with Ruth Russell, Yokosuka's School Liason Officer.  I really wish we had done this sooner as she came with a wealth of online resources that are available to military families, particularly Navy, dealing with education.  I haven't had a chance to look through many of them, but wanted to share and make sure that everyone is aware of these gems. 

First, we have Navy Knowledge Online.  In addition to resources for sailors, there are also resources for younger students: downloadable audio-books, foreign language lessons, e-books, college prep and so much more.  If you have any problems registering for the site, contact Ruth as she is an administrator for the site.  Connected with NKO is also tutor.com.   As military families, we have free access to 24/7tutors, in all subjects K-12 as well as college courses.

Do you have high school students needing test prep?  March2Success is the place to go.  This is run through the army, but still available to those of us on a navy base too.  March2Success provides online test prep for state exams, SAT, ACT, and ASVAB.

Please share any others you may have.  Always on the look out for more resources!

Science Resource: Seymour Simon

Seymour Simon is a children's science author whose books couple vivid photographs with good, easy to comprehend writing. He has a long series of books about bodies in space like the planets, comets and the moon.

His website SeymourSimon.com has an author blog, children's resource and game section and an educator section that might be of interest. The kids' and educators' sections have a registration process to ensure that kids have parental permission to use the site.

College Credit By Exam

Burning Question: Where to take CLEP/DSST while stationed here in the Kanto Plain of Japan? Do you have a high schooler, especially a Jr/Sr level schooler and wants--nay, needs to take the CLEP/DSST?

Well I found info... Que audience applause... Thank you, thank you.

Now, as I had discovered through half a school day spent on the phone being bounced around from one office to another, not much help is available to us through college hill on base if you are not active duty military or a high school graduate dependent of a DOD sponsored individual. Thanks to the lack of support and services, I have been keeping this pot simmering on my back burner to find a way around this quandary and have been richly rewarded.

I recently (as of this morning) came across information in how to get CBE: Credit By Exam. This is done via CLEP or DSST. While in Japan, you can take CLEP without constraints (ex: must be military or already enrolled at the college etc...) at Temple University, Tokyo; and DSST also in Tokyo at CAS and Temple University. 

I hope this helps out. Below are the links of where I garnered this informaiton along with the addresses of the two sites in Tokyo. 

Good Fortune and Happy Monday--oh, and Holidays too!

Article concerning CBE http://www.rosettastone.com/homeschool/articles/new-approach-to-college

CLEP in Japan http://apps.collegeboard.com/cbsearch_clep/searchCLEPTestCenterResults.jsp?searchCategory_country=Japan&DBACTION=SEARCH_TC&clepSearchType=International&x=35&y=10

DSST in Japan In the search criteria box enter "Japan" and for Region select "International." http://www.getcollegecredit.com/search.html

CLEP and DSST

http://www.tuj.ac.jp/default.html
Temple University - Tokyo

3F, Test Center
2-8-12 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku
Tokyo,   106-0047
03-5441-9877

DSST 

http://www.cas-jpn.com/aboutus-en.html#en2

CAS Center for Advanced Studies 

Sanei-Hoshino Bldg., 3F, 

10-2 Sanei-cho, Shinjuku-ku, 

Tokyo, 160-0008, JAPAN
International Phone : (+81)3-3226-7462　

Fax : (+81)3-3226-7465　E-mail :info@cas-jpn.com

Waiting for the Typhoon

Well, it looks like we have another typhoon headed our way this week. I'm sure everyone has already started securing loose items on the balcony and in the yard.

If you're looking for some interesting educational ideas for typhoons, check out some of these.

Beaufort Wind Scale illustration from Howtoons. Last year we did our own illustrations in the spirit of this chart during the "back to school" typhoon.

Typhoons and hurricanes are the same kind of storm, just happening in different locations. Weather Wiz Kids has some good info on hurricanes and what causes the different resulting effects of the storm like storm surge.

The education section of the National Weather Service has some good stuff on weather in general and storms in particular.

NOAA has a great education site. Weather, reef exploration, climate, marine life, etc are all profiled and explained. They have tons of info on hurricanes.

If this strikes up an interest in weather science, you might be interested in the online weather course available from NOAA. It's called Jetstream and it seems very good.

Japanese History and Art Activities

Ellen McHenry's Basement Workshop site has some interesting hands on activities that would be fun for homeschoolers. Check out the history section, which includes some Japanese activities, like a pop up Bunraku stage. Bunraku is Japanese puppet theatre like what is described in The Master Puppeteer.

Hat tip: Our Nest of 3

Where to Put the Homeschool Stuff

We had a homeschool space challenge a few weeks back. Mommy To Bees was sweet enough to post some photos of her dining room to show how she's arranged homeschooling stuff in their Ikego home.

She also has some cool pics of the homeschooling files and their contents.

Anyone else have photos they're willing to show off of how you keep homeschool stuff in your home, either military housing or Japanese homes?

Interesting Japanese Grasshopper

I was trying to identify a giant insect that we had land on our balcony last summer. In the process I found a cool site with little posts about insects and other animals in Japan. Natural Japan is based in Kyushu (southern Japan). But even so, it has some good info. If you can narrow your search down to an order (like arachnids - spiders, lepidoptera - butterflies & moths, or orthoptera - grasshoppers & related insects) you can click on that term in the sidebar and see all the entries for that order.

By the way, the lovely on the balcony was an oriental long headed locust. Below is another one that we found last fall on the soccer fields. I think it's interesting that they seem to change colors as the rice in the fields changes from green to golden brown. If you're headed out to harvest rice this fall, or just hanging around the soccer fields, keep an eye out for these hoppers.

Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra

If you are working on music appreciation this year, you might find the Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra game useful. It is a computer game that follows the pieces in the Britten symphony to teach students about the different instruments in an orchestra. The game is a production from Carnegie Hall Listening Adventures.
Listening Adventures also has a feature for Dvorak's New World Symphony. Rather than a game, it is more of an illustrated performance. Images of both the featured instruments and the notes of the melody help you to "see" what you are listening to.

Online Art Resources

I've been putting together my plans for artist study this year and found a great resource from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. It has essays on various themes from artistic movements to artists to specific subjects to specific objects. For example:

Japanese Art (over 30 essays)
Greek and Roman Art (over 90 essays)
Horse Armor in Europe, with links to related essays and exhibitions, including Let's Look at Armor, which compares European, Japanese and Ottoman Turkish armor.

There was some discussion on the KPHS email list about Janson's History of Art. There is an extensive companion website for Janson's that includes study guides and activities like fill in the blank, true false questions, essay questions and maps. If you hover above the chapter numbers at the top you can see what the chapter topics are. I haven't checked yet, but I would expect the base library to have at least one copy of Janson's History of Art in the collection.

One more nice art resource is the National Gallery of Art's website. It has both an art education section with lesson plans and activities by artist and topic; and an NGAKids section that includes fun online activities using various artists and movements for inspiration. They have children's guides and longer Family Guides. These can be helpful when visiting exhibits at local Japanese art museums, which might not have printed or audio guides available in English.