TEACHER’S GUIDE Sumo Joe written by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Nat Iwata About the Book SYNOPSIS Genre: Realistic Fiction *Reading Level: Grade 3 On Saturday mornings, Sumo Joe is a gentle big brother to his little Interest Level: Grades PreK–4 sister. But on Saturday afternoons, he and his friends are sumo wrestlers. They tie on makeshift mawashi belts, practice drills like Guided Reading Level: K teppo, and compete in their homemade dohyō ring. They even Accelerated Reader® Level/ observe sumo’s ultimate rule: no girls allowed! Points: N/A But when Sumo Joe’s little sister wants to join in the fun, Sumo Joe Lexile™ Measure: N/A is torn between the two things he’s best at—sumo, and being a big brother. Martial art forms face off in this sweet yet spirited rhyming *Reading level based on the story by author Mia Wenjen and illustrator Nat Iwata. Spache Readability Formula Themes: Childhood Experiences and Memories, Conflict Resolution, Cultural Diversity, Diversity, Families, Imagination, Siblings, Sports, Asian/Asian American Interest Teacher’s Guide copyright © 2019 LEE & LOW BOOKS. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share and adapt for personal and educational use. For questions, comments, and/or more information, please contact us at [email protected]. Visit us online at leeandlow.com. 1 Sumo Joe BACKGROUND touched the ground outside of the ring. Author’s Note from Mia Wenjen Mawashi is the belt sumo wrestlers wear during Sumo Joe and his friends re-create the traditions training and competitions. It measures about 30 of sumo wrestling in their own way. They tie on feet (9 meters) in length and is made from cotton scarves for their belts (mawashi) and build a ring or silk. The mawashi gets wrapped several times (dohyō) made of pillows. They perform shiko, a around the sumo wrestler in a precise way so that stomping exercise used to drive away evil spirits, it fits securely against the wrestler’s body. Then it is and begin their matches by throwing salt to purify tied in the back with a large knot. the ring. All these practices are based on rituals of sumo wrestling rooted in Shinto traditions. Shiko is one of the basic sumo stomping exercises used to build leg strength. Sumo wrestlers During a sumo match, two wrestlers use a variety slowly raise one leg high to the side in the air, of techniques that include pushing, shoving, then bring it down the great force in a stomping slapping, throwing, tripping, and grappling to motion. Wrestlers perform shiko in the dohyo knock each other down or out of the ring. Although ceremoniously to drive away bad spirits. it seems as if the bigger wrestler would always win, this is not the case. Like Sumo Joe and his friends, Shinto is an ancient Japanese religious system. sumo wrestlers come in different shapes and sizes. It connects present-day Japan with its past by It takes a combination of strategy, agility, and honoring kami, which is the spirit or energy of technique to win a match. all things both living and dead, including people, plants, and animals. Aikido Jo uses her training in aikido to compete against her older brother, Sumo Joe. Like a Sumo is a competitive, full contact wrestling sport matador in a bullring, aikido martial artists use from Japan. Sumo can be traced back to ancient graceful and precise movements to redirect Shinto rituals that were practiced to ensure a their attacker’s energy and throw the person off bountiful harvest and to honor the spirits. Sumo balance. Aikido does not have competitions, so it’s wrestlers also served as warriors to warlords only for fun that Aikido Jo would square off against during the age of the samurai. Its present-day form Sumo Joe in a match. developed during the Edo period (1603-1868), when the money raised from matches was used Sumo has traditionally been considered a sport primarily to build shrines and temples. Today sumo for men, though there have been some instances in Japan is enjoyed by many people through six during the long evolution of sumo that included major tournaments a year. women competing in the ring. Women are not allowed to touch the dohyo after it has been Teppo is an exercise that helps strengthen a purified with salt, which is why Sumo Joe’s friends wrestler’s arms and shoulders. The wrestler starts try to keep Aikido Jo from entering the ring. In in a squat position, then reaches out to strike either recent years, however, there has been a surge of a large wooden pole (also known as a teppo) or interest and support for women in sumo wrestling, a partner with the palm of the right hand while prompting calls for the sport to be more inclusive. simultaneously sliding the right foot forward. The wrestler then repeats the action, alternating Glossary between the left and right hands and feet. Aikido is a modern Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba. It’s a form of self-defense Uchimuso is one of the eighty-two techniques that protects both the attacker and defender from that can be used to win a sumo match. In this injury. Because aikido redirects the attacker’s particular technique, the sumo wrestler grips the energy, it can be very effective even if the defender opponent’s belt with one hand and pulls down is much smaller than the opponent. while simultaneously using the other hand to lift up the opponent’s inner thigh, thus twisting the Dohyō is the ring where sumo bouts are held. It is person off balance. about 15 feet (4.6 meters) in diameter and is made of rice-straw bales mounted on a square platform. The glossary also includes helpful images for The entire surface is covered in sand, which helps further reference. the judges determine whether or not a wrestler Teacher’s Guide copyright © 2019 LEE & LOW BOOKS. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share and adapt for personal and educational use. For 2 questions, comments, and/or more information, please contact us at [email protected]. Visit us online at leeandlow.com. Benji, the Bad Day, and Me VOCABULARY BEFORE READING (Language Standards, Vocabulary Acquisition & Use, Strands 4–6) Prereading Focus Questions The story contains several (Reading Standards, Craft & Structure, Strand 5 and Integration of Knowledge & Ideas, Strand 7) content-specific and academic (Speaking & Listening Standards, Comprehension & Collaboration, Strands 1 and 2) words and phrases that may be unfamiliar to students. Based Before introducing this book to students, you may wish to develop on students’ prior knowledge, background knowledge and promote anticipation by posing questions such as the following: review some or all of the vocabulary below. 1. What sports or activities do you like to do for fun? What do you enjoy about them? Content Specific tisumo, mawashi, shiko, Shinto, 2. How do you practice for your sport or activity? What kind of equipment or space do you need? Are there specific moves or teppo, dohyo, uchimuso, aikido parts of the sport/activity that you do when you play? What are Academic they? How are they important to that sport/activity? gentle, duo, knotted, demons, 3. What sports or activities do you like to do with your friends? defeat, sacred, sidestep, fling What do you enjoy about that particular activity or sport when you’re with your friends? Why? 4. What do you know about sumo wrestling? Have you ever seen it on television or in real life? What was it like? 5. Have you ever not been allowed to do something because you are a boy or girl or because of your age? How did it make you feel? What did you do? 6. What are your thoughts on gender differences in sports? What kinds of things do you hear, typically about girls in sports? Why do you think you hear those things? Exploring the Book (Reading Standards, Key Ideas & Details, Strand 1, Craft & Structure, Strand 5, and Integration of Knowledge & Ideas, Strand 7) (Speaking & Listening Standards, Comprehension & Collaboration, Strands 1 and 2) 1. Book Title Exploration: Talk about the title of the book, Sumo Joe. Then ask students what they think this book will most likely be about and whom the book might be about. What do they think might happen? What information do they think they might learn? What makes them think that? 2. Read Mia Wenjen’s Biography: Read about Mia Wenjen on the back cover as well as on her website at https://www. pragmaticmom.com/. This is Mia’s first picture book for children. What do you think the writing process is like, especially for a first-time author? Teacher’s Guide copyright © 2019 LEE & LOW BOOKS. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share and adapt for personal and educational use. For 3 questions, comments, and/or more information, please contact us at [email protected]. Visit us online at leeandlow.com. 3 Sumo Joe 3. Read Nat Iwata’s Biography: Read about Literal Comprehension Nat Iwata on the back cover as well as at his (Reading Standards, Key Ideas & Details, Strands 1–3) website http://www.iwataillustration.com/. (Speaking & Listening Standards, Comprehension & Collaboration, Have students look into his other illustrations Strands 1–3; and Presentation of Knowledge & Ideas, Strand 4) on his website. How are his illustrations similar? 1. How do Sumo Joe and Aikido Jo begin their day How are they different? How would you together? What do they do? describe Nat’s artistic style? 2. Who comes over to Sumo Joe’s house? What 4.