Elementary School in Japan: quite different!

I liked this video very much for social studies and social comments about teaching, education, foreign cultures, and how they differ from our lifestyles here in the U.S. I spent two-plus years in China and Japan, and although I only visited schools in China, I found it very interesting. I liked the opportunity here to see how young students learn in Japan.

For my students, I asked them to consider the following ideas:
* How are schools different in Japan from the U.S.? Be specific.
* From those differences, why do you think they work?
* Which differences do you think would be useful in our country? Be specific when you say "why" for your answers.
* What are some of the main ideas being taught in Japanese elementary schools? How do the students like these ideas?