Hiragana Bingo Fun

Curriculum Links

Stage 4 Languages (Year 7) - Japanese

• Outcomes:
  • Communicating – Students use familiar vocabulary and hiragana characters to convey and understand information in simple Japanese.
  • Understanding Language – Recognise and respond to hiragana characters in spoken and written form.
  • Understanding Culture – Appreciate the relationship between written language and cultural identity.
• Content Descriptions:
  • Participate in simple classroom interactions and activities using hiragana characters learnt.
  • Recognise and recall hiragana characters in varied contexts, applying them in games and inquiry learning.
  • Explore how written Japanese connects with culture and identity, reflecting on learning experiences.

This aligns with NSW Japanese syllabus focus on communication, understanding language, and cultural awareness for Years 7 and 8 .

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this 45-minute lesson, students will be able to:

• Recognise and recall hiragana characters learned in previous lessons with increased confidence.
• Engage in interactive group activities that reinforce hiragana knowledge through peer collaboration.
• Demonstrate listening skills by identifying hiragana characters called out in the game.
• Show enjoyment and motivation in applying Japanese script within meaningful classroom interaction.

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Resources Required

• Customised Bingo cards featuring random sets of hiragana characters (one per student, 16 total).
• A call sheet with all hiragana characters students have learned so far (to call out randomly).
• Counters or markers for students to cover characters on their bingo cards.
• Whiteboard/flip chart for displaying hiragana characters if needed.
• Timer or stopwatch for pacing the game rounds.

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Lesson Breakdown

Time	Activity	Description	Teacher's Role	Student Engagement
5 mins	Warm-up & Review	Brief oral review of previously learned hiragana characters, using flashcards or whiteboard. Check pronunciation and recall.	Facilitate quick oral drill, encourage choral and individual responses. Use positive reinforcement.	Listen attentively; respond orally to identify characters.
10 mins	Explain Bingo Rules	Explain how to play Hiragana Bingo: teacher calls out a hiragana character, students mark it if on their card. Aim is a line or full house.	Model example round, ensuring all understand the game mechanics. Answer questions.	Listen carefully; clarify if unsure about any instructions.
25 mins	Hiragana Bingo Game	Play multiple rounds of Bingo calling out characters randomly. Use the timer to pace rounds (about 3-4 mins each). Celebrate winners each round with small rewards or praise. Rotate calling responsibility to volunteers.	Oversee the game, verify winners, keep energy positive. Encourage students to say the characters when marking. Rotate caller role.	Actively participate; mark cards; say characters aloud; cheer others; take turns calling characters.
5 mins	Reflection & Feedback	Group discussion about the game: Which characters were tricky? How did the game help your learning? What new strategies did you use to remember?	Facilitate a 2-minute sharing session, encouraging students to reflect on their experience with hiragana.	Share personal insights; listen to peers; ask questions about tricky characters.

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Differentiation & Inclusion

• Provide simpler bingo cards with fewer characters for students needing additional support.
• Challenge more advanced students by timing their recall or requiring them to say a word containing the character they mark.
• Allow movement and collaboration, supporting kinaesthetic and social learners.

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Assessment for Learning

• Formative: Observation of students correctly identifying and marking hiragana during Bingo. Listening to their verbalisation of characters shows recall ability.
• Self-assessment: Students reflect on their confidence and memory strategies during the reflection stage.
• Peer assessment: Rotating caller role encourages peer support and confidence building.

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Extensions (if time permits or for homework)

• Students create their own small hiragana Bingo cards for family members to play at home.
• Challenge students to write simple words incorporating some of the Bingo characters.
• Introduce a bonus round with katakana equivalents for a stretch activity.

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Teacher Notes

• Maintain a lively pace to keep Year 7 students engaged for the full 45 minutes — use upbeat encouragement.
• Use clear pronunciation and gestures for each called character to help connect sound and symbol.
• Reinforce the cultural wonder of Japanese writing by reminding students that these characters have travelled through history and embody Japanese identity.

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By incorporating game-based learning and peer interaction, this lesson supports the NSW Stage 4 Languages curriculum’s focus on active communication and cultural understanding. It builds a solid foundation in hiragana literacy while engaging students aged around 12-13 years in a joyful, memorable experience.

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If you would like, I can also help create the bingo cards grid with the hiragana characters learned so far for this activity.