Carmen Ho
Teaching Materials on Pom Poko
Copyrights owned by the author
Teaching materials on Pom Poko
Main Theme of the project: Helping the Wild Animals (Raccoons) to Survive
This is a cross curricular topic which involves different subjects, such as English, Information Technology,
Visual Art and Geography, etc. This project includes a series of tasks with specific teaching materials. Children
gain pleasure in learning through the process of watching the film and visiting Hong Kong Wetland Park.
Target level of students: Primary six
Title of the film: Heisei tanuki gassen pompoko/ The Raccoon War / Pom Poko
(Chinese translation: 百變狸貓)
Year of production: 1994
Director’s name: Isao Takahata
(Chinese translation: 高畑勳)
Language: Japanese
A brief synopsis of what the film is about:
Due to the urban development of human, the raccoon population's forest and meadow habitat are intruded and
the raccoons find themselves faced the high possibility of extinction. In order to preserve their homeland, a
group of mischievous Japanese raccoons try to stop the construction by scaring humans away by the “Raccoons
transforming science”.
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Carmen Ho
Teaching Materials on Pom Poko
Copyrights owned by the author
A brief rationale of why this film has been chosen:
Children enjoy watching animation. The cartoon images and songs in the animation are attractive to students.
The plot for animations is usually easy for students to understand. I believe animations are comparatively more
effective for teaching than other film genres.
Environmental protection is a hot topic nowadays. This film brings the idea of the environmental protection and
promotes the love of the wild animals. These are important values that children should learn and so this film is
chosen for teaching.
This animation is imaginative. This enables students’ creativity on how to see matters. It helps foster students’
writing ability.
Related newspaper cut:
傳遞保護大自然信息
(明 報 )2009 年 1 月 27 日 星 期 二 05:10
【明報專訊】《百變狸貓》 本港台
今 午 1 時 35 分
宮 崎 駿 透 過《 百 變 狸 貓 》傳 達 保 護 大 自 然 的 信 息。狸 貓 們 原 本 在 東 京
多摩丘陵過着悠閒寧靜
的 生 活，但 期 間 發 生 圍 繞 着 獵 食 場 的 爭 奪 地 盤 紛 爭，牠 們 查 明 獵 食 場 減 少 是 因 人 類 開 始 發 展 住
宅區，再這樣下去，可能連居住的地方也不保。
全 丘 陵 區 的 狸 貓 集 合 召 開 了 大 會 議，決 議 阻 止 人 類 的 開 發 結 果。可 是 若 要 對 抗 擁 有 先 進 科 學 的
人 類，唯 有 復 興 早 已 沒 落 的 易 容 術，以 及 派 出 使 者 到 四 國 及 佐 渡 的 傳 說 長 者 處 要 求 援 軍。只 是
計 劃 在 意 想 不 到 的 地 方 遇 到 挫 折 ， 令 他 們 付 出 努 力 卻 沒 有 成 果 ……
Reference: http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/090126/4/aefx.html
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Carmen Ho
Teaching Materials on Pom Poko
Copyrights owned by the author
The flow of the project
I.
Pre-task: Introduction
Task 1: ‘Making
Friends with Raccoons’
Generic skills required:





Reading skills for reading the information for raccoons
Listening skills for listening to others’ presentation
Speaking skills for having presentation
Critical thinking for selecting the best group for the presentation
Communication skills for discussing matters among peers
Other skills required:
 If students choose to draw the poster, drawing skills are involved.
 If students choose to present the ideas by the PowerPoint, information technology skills are
involved.
Teaching steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
This task is run before the film is played. It aims to give students a brief understanding of the main
characters in the film- raccoons.
The teacher will brief students what to do in the activity. A task sheet which gives the guidelines of
the activity will be given by the teacher and the teacher will also give suggestions on how to
present the idea. The teacher will also explain the marking scheme with students so that students
will know what a good presentation should include.
Two lessons are given for students to discuss and prepare the presentation. Information can be
sought from the web-sites, such as wikipedia or books from the library. Then, another two lessons
are provided for them to have the presentation.
During the presentation, peer evaluation form will be filled by other classmates.
Finally, the best group for the presentation will be voted by the class.
II.
Explanation of the “urban development” by the teacher
III.
While-task: Film-watching
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Carmen Ho
Teaching Materials on Pom Poko
Copyrights owned by the author
Timeline: 119 minutes (extra-curricular activities after school)
Task 2: ‘The
IV.
Raccoon War’ Memory Game
Generic skills required:




Speaking skills for telling the order of the plot.
Listening skills for hearing others’ opinion
Writing skills for writing the comments and personal feelings to the film
Communication skills for discussing the order of the storyline among peers
Teaching steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Two students are in a group
They are given a task sheet. The task sheet is written some important events in the story but they
are in the wrong order. Students are asked to cut them out, discuss and rearrange the order of the
events.
Ten minutes later, the teacher will check the answers with students.
The last 10 minutes will be given to students to complete the last part by writing the comments of
the film.
V.
Follow-up tasks: A Visit to Hong Kong Wetland Park
1.
Apply for the School Lecture on the topic, “Wetland Conservation in Hong Kong”
Aim: highlights the function of wetlands, the background and objectives of the Ramsar
Convention, an overview on the wetland habitats in Hong Kong and wetland
conservation works that we all can participate.
Reference: http://www.wetlandpark.com/en/education/school_lecture.asp
2.
Take part in the Park Experience on the topic, “Wetland Products and our Daily Life (P.4 to
P.6)”
Aim: Visit different wetlands and learn more about the relation between wetlands and our daily life
Reference: http://www.wetlandpark.com/en/education/school_pe.asp
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Carmen Ho
Teaching Materials on Pom Poko
Copyrights owned by the author
VI. Task 3:
Learn more about the Hong Kong Wetland and the wild animals
Generic skills required:
 Listening skills for listening to the explanation of the official lecturer of the park


Writing skills for note-taking
Reading skills for reading the explanation set around the park
Teaching steps:
1.
2.
3.
During the Park Experience, students will be guided to visit the park. An official tour guide of the
park will explain what they see during the journey.
Students are asked to jot down the notes of what the tour guide has said. They are also asked to
observe and record what they think is funny in the park.
Then, they have to give a short oral report to the class of what they have written down during the
journey.
VII. Task 4: Personal sharing: how to conserve the wild animals and the wetland
Generic skills required:
 Speaking skills for presenting the ideas
 Writing skills for writing suggestions on the poster.
Teaching steps:
1. Each student is asked to draw a poster.
2. The poster should be written with some suggestions on how to conserve the wild animals and the
wetlands.
3. Students are asked to present their ideas and have their personal sharing of the trip in front of the
class.
5
Carmen Ho
Teaching Materials on Pom Poko
Copyrights owned by the author
Appendix
i.
Worksheet for Task 1:
‘Making Friends with Raccoons’
ii.
A simple marking scheme for Task 1
iii.
Worksheet for Task 2:
‘The Raccoon War’ Memory Game
iv.
Model answers of Task 2
v.
Worksheet for Task 3:
Learn more about the Hong Kong
Wetland and the wild animals
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Carmen Ho
Teaching Materials on Pom Poko
Copyrights owned by the author
Name: _______________ (
)
Class: P. 6 ______
Date: _______________
Task 1: ‘Making Friends with Raccoons’
What are racoons? Can you tell me more about raccoons? Let’s see who know
these lovely raccoons more!
Guidelines:
4-5 students are in a group. Each group is asked to have a 10-minutes
presentation on the topic ‘making friends with Raccoons’. Each group can
choose any kinds of ways to present their ideas. Try to search for more
information about raccoons on the internet/ from books.
Hints:
Where do raccoons live? How do they look
like? What do they eat? What do they like to
do?
Can I use dramas/ music/ games/ riddles to
present my ideas? How about the powerpoint
or a poster? Can I draw a poster of raccoons
and show my classmates how raccoons look
like?
How should7 we treat the wild animals?
Carmen Ho
Teaching Materials on Pom Poko
Copyrights owned by the author
Task 1: A simple marking scheme for the presentation (student’s copy)
Group number: __________________
Assessor’s name:___________________
Is your presentation good
enough?
(1 is lowest and 4 is highest)
Content
1
2
3
4
Time management for the presentation
(Is it too long? Is it too short?)




Rich information about raccoons




The presentation is creative.




I enjoy the presentation.




Materials used
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Carmen Ho
Teaching Materials on Pom Poko
Copyrights owned by the author
Materials are beautifully-made.




Materials help understanding.







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

Pupils’ Involvement
Everyone has chances to speak in
the presentation.
Clarity
I understand the presentation.
Bonus
5
Promoting the idea of protecting raccoons/ environment
Overall performance:
/ 37
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
Carmen Ho
Teaching Materials on Pom Poko
Copyrights owned by the author
Name: _______________ (
)
Class: P. 6 ______
Date: _______________
Task 2: ‘The Raccoon War’ Memory Game
The plot or storyline of ‘The Raccoon War’ is easy to follow by watching the film, but
how easy it is to remember what happens afterwards?
The following are the important events from the ‘Raccoon War’. However, they are
not in the right order. Please cut these out along the dotted lines and try to
rearrange the order after the discussion with your partner.

A meeting is held by the “town” raccoons and the “town” elder. They determine to scare humans away by
the “raccoons transforming science” in order to stop the urban expansion. Also, they try to improve their
own culture to equal man's so they can have their own space and discuss seeking the help of the great
raccoon sages from Shikoku.

The transformation needs a lot of energy and concentration. Hence, the raccoons need to drink lots of
“power-medicine” drinks to keep the transformed human face. Due to the large expense for the drinks, the
raccoons start another course of action by “hijacking” the supply trucks coming into the construction area.

Not willing to split up, the raccoons plan a plot to get money from the president. The plan works.

Two groups of raccoons transform into Japanese samurai soldiers and fight with each other. The female
elder raccoon stops the fight and points out that their real problem is the construction that man has begun.
All the raccoons climb up the power tower and see the beginnings of a “New town”.

Some raccoons take the fox’s advice and attempt to join the society of man. Other raccoons that can’t
transform are still alive and have not eliminated due to the diminished wild lands.

A group of raccoons investigates an abandoned house and the construction vehicle scares them away.
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Carmen Ho
Teaching Materials on Pom Poko
Copyrights owned by the author

One strong raccoon suggests removing all the human, however, his idea is changed a bit by leaving some
humans alive because of the desire for the human-made delicious food. Then, they decide to transform into
ghost-like objects to scare people away but this strategy does not work.

The next day, the president of an amusement park company lies and says that the parade is the result of his
company’s special effects. The raccoons are unhappy because their hard work is disregarded.

The three sages have arrived and train the whole crowd of raccoons for the “mass attack” by carrying out a
“ghost parade”

The “town” raccoons practice their transforming skills in the “boot camp”. Some raccoons are successful
in transforming into humans and they start investigating the world of man.

Later, one of the sages has a meeting with a fox, who is the representative of the amusement park company.
The foxes, who have suffered from the loss from their original homes by men, decided to join human
society instead of insist on fighting for the decreasing land. The fox persuades the raccoons to work for the
company but a problem arises as not all the raccoons can transform into humans.

Despite all of the raccoons’ efforts, the new town has steadily grown and diminished their land. They all
join to transform the "damaged" land into its previous mountainous state. However, this is only temporary,
as the land soon returns to its city-cultivated state. The raccoons are defeated finally.

The human watch the “ghost show” rather than are feared by the show. The parade finally ends with the
death of one sage. Right after the parade, the raccoons believe that they have succeeded and so they
celebrate overnight.
How many did you get right? It’s not that easy, isn’t it?
After you have go through the storyline, let’s try to give some comments to the story! How do you think about
the story? Do you like it? Is it meaningful and interesting to you? Why?
My name: ___________________ (
)
My comments:
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
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________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Carmen Ho
Teaching Materials on Pom Poko
Copyrights owned by the author
Name: _______________ (
)
Class: P. 6 ______
Date: _______________
Task 2: ‘The Raccoon War’ Memory Game (The Model Answer)
1. A group of raccoons investigates an abandoned house and the construction vehicle scares
them away.
2. Two groups of raccoons transform into Japanese samurai soldiers and fight with each other.
The female elder raccoon stops the fight and points out that their real problem is the
construction that man has begun. All the raccoons climb up the power tower and see the
beginnings of the “New town”.
3. A meeting is held by the “town” raccoons and the “town” elder and they determine to scare
humans away by the “raccoons transforming science” in order to stop the urban expansion.
Also, they try to improve their own culture to equal man's so they can have their own space
and discuss seeking the help of the great raccoon sages from Shikoku.
4. The “town” raccoons practice their transforming skills in the camp. Some raccoons are
successful in transforming into humans and they start investigating the world of man.
5. The transformation needs a lot of energy and concentration. Hence, the raccoons need to
drink lots of “power-medicine” drinks to keep the transformed face. Due to the large
expense for the drinks, the raccoons start another course of action by “hijacking” the supply
trucks coming into the construction area.
6. One strong raccoon suggests removing all the human, however, his idea is changed a bit by
leaving some humans alive because of the delicious food. Then, they decided to transform
into ghost-like object to scare people away but this strategy does not work.
7. The three sages have arrived and train the whole crowd of raccoons for the “mass attack”
by carrying out a “ghost parade”
8. The human watch the “ghost show” rather than are feared by the show. The parade finally
ends with the death of one sage. The raccoons believe that they have succeeded and so they
12
Carmen Ho
Teaching Materials on Pom Poko
Copyrights owned by the author
celebrate overnight.
9. The next day, the president of an amusement park company lies and says that the parade is
the result of his company’s special effects. The raccoons are unhappy because their hard
work is disregarded.
10. Later, one of the sages has an interview with a fox, who is the representative of the
amusement park company. The foxes, who have suffered from the loss from their original
homes by men, decided to join human society instead of insist on fighting for the
decreasing land. The fox persuade the raccoons to work for the company but a problem
arises as not all the raccoons can transform into humans.
11. Not willing to split up, the raccoons plan a plot to get money from the president.
12. Despite all of the raccoons’ efforts, the new town has steadily grown and diminished their
land. They all join to transform the "damaged" land into its previous mountainous state.
However, this is only temporary, as the land soon returns to its city-cultivated state. The
raccoons are defeated finally.
13. Some raccoons take the fox’s advice and attempt to join the society of man. Other raccoons
that can’t transform are still alive and have not eliminated due to the diminished wild lands.
13
Carmen Ho
Teaching Materials on Pom Poko
Copyrights owned by the author
Name: _______________ (
)
Class: P. 6 ______
Date: _______________
Task 3 Learn more about the Hong Kong Wetland and the wild animals
My note
About the Wetland
About the Wild Animals
The funny thing
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Carmen Ho
Teaching Materials on Pom Poko
Copyrights owned by the author
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