Culture Corner
Every year, elementary school students in Japan look forward to natsuyasumi (夏休み; summer vacation), which usually lasts from late July to the end of August. During this time, children travel with their families, play with friends, and enjoy summer festivals.
However, shougakusei also have shukudai (宿題; homework) to complete during natsuyasumi. Depending on the school, this may include kanji and math practice, a dokusho kansoubun (読書感想文; book report) reflecting on a book they have read, a nikki (日記; diary) to record their daily life, and a jiyuu kenkyuu (自由研究; independent research project) on a topic of their choice. For their jiyuu kenkyuu, children might observe shokubutsu (植物; plants) or konchuu (昆虫; insects), or investigate something that interests them.
Natsuyasumi is an important time for children to learn through different experiences. While having fun, they can explore their interests and create omoide (思い出; memories) they’ll carry with them long after summer ends.
However, shougakusei also have shukudai (宿題; homework) to complete during natsuyasumi. Depending on the school, this may include kanji and math practice, a dokusho kansoubun (読書感想文; book report) reflecting on a book they have read, a nikki (日記; diary) to record their daily life, and a jiyuu kenkyuu (自由研究; independent research project) on a topic of their choice. For their jiyuu kenkyuu, children might observe shokubutsu (植物; plants) or konchuu (昆虫; insects), or investigate something that interests them.
Natsuyasumi is an important time for children to learn through different experiences. While having fun, they can explore their interests and create omoide (思い出; memories) they’ll carry with them long after summer ends.
Vocabulary
These words are grouped by part of speech — try combining a noun and a verb from the list into your own sentence.
夏休み（なつやすみ）
natsuyasumi
summer vacation
noun
小学生（しょうがくせい）
shougakusei
elementary student
noun
家族（かぞく）
kazoku
family
noun
友だち（ともだち）
tomodachi
friends
noun
宿題（しゅくだい）
shukudai
homework
noun
読書感想文（どくしょかんそうぶん）
dokusho kansoubun
book report
noun
日記（にっき）
nikki
diary
noun
研究（けんきゅう）
kenkyuu
research
noun
植物（しょくぶつ）
shokubutsu
plants
noun
昆虫（こんちゅう）
konchuu
insects
noun
思い出（おもいで）
omoide
memories
noun
楽しい
tanoshii
fun, enjoyable
i-adjective
大切な
taisetsu na
important
na-adjective
自由な
jiyuu na
free
na-adjective
続く（つづく）
tsuzuku
to last, continue
verb
旅行する（りょこうする）
ryokou suru
to travel
verb
遊ぶ（あそぶ）
asobu
to play
verb
楽しむ（たのしむ）
tanoshimu
to enjoy
verb
練習する（れんしゅうする）
renshuu suru
to practice
verb
観察する（かんさつする）
kansatsu suru
to observe
verb
調べる（しらべる）
shiraberu
to investigate
verb
学ぶ（まなぶ）
manabu
to learn
verb
探す（さがす）
sagasu
to search for
verb
作る（つくる）
tsukuru
to make
verb
What was your favorite part of summer vacation as a child?
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