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There is much more to explore in our calendar. Find other important events in literary history, authors' birthdays, and a variety of holidays, each with related lessons and resources.
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Home › Classroom Resources › Calendar Activities
May 01
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is in May!
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| Grades | 9 – 12 |
| Calendar Activity Type | Holiday & School Celebration |
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Since 1978, the month of May has been a time to honor the heritage of Asian and Pacific Americans and their contributions to the United States. Originally a week-long Asian American Heritage Week, the celebration now lasts through the entire month.
Ask students to consider the portrayal of Asians in popular culture by focusing on characters in films and movies. Have students explore images from classic and contemporary films and then compare these images to the historical and cultural reference materials.
- Visit Asian Images in Film, from Turner Classic Movies, with the class and analyze still images and movie trailers on the site to identify how and when Asians are included in Hollywood films.
- Have students consider the shortcomings of Hollywood portrayals, after viewing the Asians in Hollywood, Stereotyping of Asians, or Anglos Playing Asians videos on the site.
- Ask students to find historical and cultural reference materials covering topics similar to those in the film clips. Have students compare the film portrayals to the information that they find in other texts.
- Asian American Heritage Month
This Library of Congress site features resources on Asian Pacific American history and culture, including links to biographies in the Veterans History Project, contemporary Japanese paintings, and resources for teachers.
- Asian Pacific Americans Heritage Teaching Resources
The Smithsonian Education site includes materials on ethnic heritage, world music, history, and the arts. Visitors can learn about Hawaiian Lu'aus, Chinese immigrants' participation in the American Gold Rush, and the art of Buddhism. Educational materials and lesson plans are also provided.
- Asian Americans Then and Now
This article from the Asia Society explores the history of Asian Americans and their role in shaping the country.
- Asian Pacific American Booklists
Find great books written about a wide range of Asian and Pacific American cultural experiences for children and adolescents.
- Asian American Author Interviews
Watch online interviews with Asian American children's book authors.
- APA Resources from NCTE
These resources below will help you explore the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans with students and ask them to think critically about how the roles and culture of Asians and Pacific Islanders have been presented in literature and popular culture.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Exploring World Cultures Through Folk Tales
Journey around the world with students as they read a Japanese, African, or Welsh folk tale, create a visual depiction of the tale, research the tale's culture, and present findings.
Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | Unit
Discovering Memory: Li-Young Lee’s Poem “Mnemonic” and the Brain
Students learn about memory by doing a memory-writing exercise, studying the brain to understand how it affects memory, reading Li-Young Lee’s poem “Mnemonic,” and creating projects to demonstrate their understanding.
Grades 9 – 12 | Lesson Plan | Unit
Family Memoir: Getting Acquainted With Generations Before Us
Creating a memoir of an older family member allows students both to learn more about their own backgrounds and to learn the power of storytellers.
Grades 9 – 12 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Exploring Language and Identity: Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” and Beyond
Students explore the idea of "different Englishes" by reading Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue" and writing literacy narratives about their own use of different language for different audiences and purposes.
