Article: Netsuke: unique Japanese miniature sculpture.

Netsuke is a small, sculptural art that communicated social values as part of a custom in Japanese society during the early days, especially in the Edo era. Cause and effect are apparent in this history lesson, as there was a change in history due to the influence of Western culture, which resulted in a change the purpose of netsuke. Netsuke became an important part of the historical record of Japanese society and is still considered a unique art form today.

With background knowledge the function and aesthetics of netsuke, and an understanding of the historical context of this time period, fifth- and sixth-grade students modeled their own netsuke from clay.