Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

A Web Quest for Grades 3-5

By: Pat Duhon

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr is a true story about a girl who lived in Japan toward the end of World War II. This Web Quest is designed to introduce you to Sadako Sasaki and her country of Japan. Find out why Sadako is a heroine to the children of Japan.

The Task

Before reading the book work with a partner to:

Discover interesting facts about Japan.
Make a chart comparing life in the United States to life in Japan.
Make a time line of events related to Sadako Sasaki.
Learn about when and where the atomic bombs were dropped.
Learn about the art of origami.

The Process

Sadako lived in Hiroshima, Japan. Read about the country of Japan:

Nature and Climate
Regions of Japan
Locate Hiroshima on a Map of Japan. Click on the Chugoku region (purple) and make a list of four special characteristics of this region.

Read about Daily Life and Schools in Japan (including the Q & A) section. Think about how life in the United States compares to life in Japan. Make a chart listing the similarities and differences in the following categories:

Housing
Food
Dress
Schools

Create a time line. Include the dates of the following important events:

Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. US declares War on Japan.
Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
Sadako born. (You will need to do a little math.)
Sadako died.
Unveiling of Sadako statue in Hiroshima Peace Park.
Unveiling of Statue of Sadako Sasaki in Seattle Peace Park.

Use the following resources to find information to complete your timeline:
The Sadako Story and Seattle Sadako Statue
Attack on Pearl Harbor

The United States used the atomic bomb to end the war. Write a paragraph about the bombs that were dropped. Include the following information:

Name of the target cities.
How many people died in each city?
Who or what was the Enola Gay?
Who or what was “Little Boy”?
Who are what was “Fat Boy?

Use the following resources to find information for your paragraph:
Find out when and where the bombs were dropped.
Read about The Atomic Bomb.
Visit the A-Bomb WWW Museum

What is origami? Ask your teacher for the materials and fold a paper crane.

Evaluation

When you have finished with the activities ask yourself these questions:

Did you list four characteristics of the Chugoku region of Japan?
Does your chart comparing Japan to the U.S. include similarities and differences in the categories of: housing, food, dress, and schools?
Does your paragraph about the atomic bombs include information on the targeted cities, how many people died in each city, the Enola Gay, Little Boy and Fat Boy?
Were you able to follow directions to fold a paper crane?

Conclusion

You have explored the land, culture, and history of Japan. As you read the book, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr, think about how you feel about how you feel about war.

Extending Activities

For additional origami projects visit Joseph Wu’s Origami Page.