Spirited Away

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

ACTIVITY 1: “Design a Shrine”

In this activity, students will construct or illustrate a Shinto shrine that represents one of the novel’s three main themes.

Considering the novel’s themes (Modern Humanity’s Abandonment of Spirituality and Nature; The Dangers of Decadence and Greed; How Love Propels One Toward Bravery and Maturity), you will create a representation of a shrine using either three-dimensional materials or by illustrating/painting it. Your project will include a brief 3-5 sentence description of your shrine and how it relates to the novel’s themes.

• Decide whether you want to create a three-dimensional or two-dimensional piece.
• Consider facts on Shintoism using the paired resources, reviewing your notes, conducting research, and talking with classmates.
• Think about the novel’s themes and how they relate to Shinto shrines, as well as how these shrines are depicted in the story.

Share your project with classmates and offer a brief presentation on the ways in which it connects to the chosen theme. Your projects will be on display in the classroom for others to view and admire!

Teaching Suggestion: This activity is designed to help bridge the themes to the story’s elements, reinforce paired resources, and add a way to relate personally to the ideas presented in the novel and through Shintoism as a philosophy.