CONTENT
PARTNERS
Asian Pacific Heritage Month
How do you turn Asian Pacific American Heritage Month into a learning experience? Thinkfinity offers multimedia explorations, podcasts, online exhibits and interactive maps that help you explore the history, culture and geography of Asia Pacific countries.
ACTIVITIES
ReadWriteThink’s Asian Pacific Heritage Month Calendar Entry Grades K-12
LESSONS
The Filipino American Story
The “A Century of Challenge and Change: The Filipino American Story” curriculum was developed out of a multicultural framework. Its aim is to highlight the historical and cultural experiences of Filipino Americans within a multicultural and global context by emphasizing ethnic pride, cultural connections, critical thinking, and community activism. Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program, Grades 5-8
Korean American Curriculum Guide
This guide is designed for use by teachers, librarians, group leaders, and others who would like to introduce students and other audiences to various aspects of the Korean American experience. Each of the three lessons can be modified for both younger and older audiences. Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program, Grades 5-8
Understanding the Vietnamese American Experience
This site includes four classroom lessons and a detailed printable timeline of Vietnamese American history. Each lesson includes rich background material, along with specific discussion questions, worksheets, or classroom activities. The materials, created by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program, will help students develop understanding of and empathy for the challenges faced by Vietnamese Americans. Many of these immigrant stories could serve as bridges to discussing the experiences of other cultural and ethnic migrations. Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program, Grades 6-9
INTERACTIVES
Manjiro Nakanohama's Rescue and Voyage
Learn about a young fisherman named Manjiro Nakanohama, the first Japanese national to set foot on American soil, and a man who was influential in ending Japan’s centuries of isolation. Though Manjiro’s name and legendary life story is celebrated by the children in contemporary Japan, fame has eluded him this side of the Pacific where he remains a footnote in American maritime history. Follow Manjiro's voyage with this interactive map of his journey. EDSITEment, Grades K-12
Playing with Shadows: An Introduction to Shadow Puppets
Discover the secrets behind the art of shadow puppetry in this multimedia exploration which explores this age-old art form through animations, videos, interactive activities, and more. ARTSEDGE, Grades 5-8
A More Perfect Union: Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution
Focusing on the experience of Japanese Americans who were placed in detention camps during WWII; this online exhibit is a case study in decision making and citizen action under the U.S. Constitution. Smithsonian's History Explorer, Grades 5-12
Tower of Hanoi
According to an ancient Vietnamese legend, there exists a temple which contains a large room with three time-worn posts in it surrounded by 64 golden discs. Hanoi priests move these discs in accordance to an ancient prophecy. In this activity, students are challenged to move 8 discs across the game board with the use of pegs. Students must try to move all the discs using the smallest number of moves possible. Illuminations, Grades 6-12
Art of the Explosion
This multimedia exploration, designed for explores the science and art of pyrotechnics and chronicles the making of Cai’s Tornado: Explosion Project for the Kennedy Center. ARTSEDGE, Grades 9-12
RESOURCES
Manjiro Nakanohama's Rescue and Voyage
Learn about a young fisherman named Manjiro Nakanohama, the first Japanese national to set foot on American soil, and a man who was influential in ending Japan’s centuries of isolation. Though Manjiro’s name and legendary life story is celebrated by the children in contemporary Japan, fame has eluded him this side of the Pacific where he remains a footnote in American maritime history. Learn about Manjiro's story with an interactive map of his voyage acros the Pacific. EDSITEment, Grades K-12
Exploring Perception and Reality in the Story of the Hawaiian Islands
Uncover the story of the Hawaiian Islands through artifacts, images, audio, and text from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. This page features a short introductory essay, audio clips related to specific museum artifacts, and an enhanced podcast. Smithsonian’s History Explorer, Grades 6-12
Maps of Asia
Use National Geographic’s online Atlas to print maps of Asia. A great all-around resource, especially for projects! Xpeditions, Grades K-12
BookDragon Book Review Blog
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program
