Grades
Subjects
Time Periods
Topics
Grades
Subjects
Time Periods
Topics
Teaching Tool Kit
Activity Booklet
The activities and worksheets in this booklet are threaded together to be used for a wide-range of programs. Educators and community organizations are encouraged to use this learning material during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Lunar New Year, and programs throughout the year in student clubs on campuses, education workshops at museums, and events at local libraries or community centers. The content from this activity booklet was designed to focus on basic knowledge in order to fuel interest within readers to pursue additional self-study about the topics covered within. Activities are suitable for different levels, from elementary school, middle and high school students. Educators, as the experts of their spaces, should select which activities will work best for their classroom, as each activity offers something worth learning, or revisiting, for students in various grades.

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Lesson Overviews Booklet
In creating the curriculum for PBS's Asian Americans, our goal has been to continue sharing the untold stories of those who arrived from abroad and paved the way for Asian Americans in the U.S. today. This booklet contains an overview and the objectives of each lesson plan that has been designed for K-12 students. Educators are encouraged to select multiple lessons that can be integrated into their regular classroom instruction to enhance their student's historical knowledge. We hope that the lessons learned here will spark meaningful dialogue within and outside the classroom, and inspire each generation to empower the next. Thank you for your commitment in joining us on this journey in understanding the past of Asian Americans, and helping to shape the future of this country together.

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Research Articles
The California Reader, Fall 2024
Ashley Chu and Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan
The California Reader, Fall 2023
Prabhneek (Niki) Heer and Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan
The California Reader, Fall 2014
Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan and Dr. Donna DiPrima Bickel
Social Education, March/April 2022
 
Student Activity
Our History, Our Future
“Let’s make the leap from protest to policy change,” says civil rights leader Stewart Kwoh. Asian American history in the United States is an integral part of American history. Since the day Asian immigrants arrived in America, they have contributed greatly in shaping the way the country is today. From labor activism to fighting for school integra-tion and citizenship rights in the courts, Asian Americans have faced adversity and opportunities to create roots in the U.S. By building coalitions together with all groups, Asian Americans have been a part of historical achievements including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, and Title IX.
Today, as one of the fastest-growing minority populations, Asian Americans have a choice to make on how they will make positive and effective changes to enhance the future of the United States. According to scholar/author Viet Thanh Nguyen, “Asian Americans have choices to make. They can dwell on their own victimization…. Or they seek to transform the system into something more just, more equitable for everyone. That’s the hope of activism, that’s the hope of solidarity. That’s the hope of alliance, that’s the hope and the conviction from which something like the Asian American movement was born.”
 
Contest Image
2023-2024 Student Sticker Contest
We are pleased to announce the winners of our 2023-2024 Student Sticker Contest: The Power of Solidarity.
Thank you to all students who submitted entries.
Winners
Evie Quan
10th Grade, Ambassador Christian School, Torrance, CA

Evie Quan Evie Quan
“When I think about the word solidarity, I think about sticking together. As a Chinese American, I grew up between two cultures with a language barrier between my A-ma (grandma), who mainly speaks Mandarin. When making dumplings with my A-ma, a cross-generational tradition, it’s important to fill a dumpling with just the right amount of filling and then seal the edges shut with pleats. Sometimes it’s easy to tell the difference between my messy dumplings and my A-ma’s masterful dumplings. Dumplings are better when they don’t fall apart. I am grateful to be able to try dumplings across cultures including Chinese xiao long bao or soup dumplings, mandu, a Korean dumpling, gyoza, a commonly served Japanese side dish, and South Asian samosas. I think it’s great how different cultures have different types of dumplings, each having a delicious story to tell.” - Evie Quan
Connie Lin
11th Grade, LaGuardia High School, New York, NY

Connie Lin Connie Lin
“When I envision solidarity, I envision Asian solidarity beyond our own communities and the persistent bonds of interracial solidarity shared between APIDA and BIPOC people. These links of solidarity are remarkable and consistent throughout history in the shared struggles and resistance against discrimination and injustice. The first names that come to my brain is the remarkable friendship between Yuri Kochiyama and Malcom X towards advocacy in civil rights and the anti-war protests regarding the Vietnam War. I choose to depict the two together, side by side, linked by one of Yuri Kochiyama's quotes, to demonstrate the solidarity between not only the two figures, but between the communities they share.” - Connie Lin
 
Judges
Tell Our Story Initiative
Thank you to the panel of student judges from TOSI (Tell Our Story Initiative), Corona-Unified School District: Alena Lee and Lauren Kim. TOSI is a California-based student-led organization using bottom-up advocacy for the incorporation of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) representation in a more ethnically diverse curriculum, especially with the passage of Assembly Bill 101. Through gathering testimonials from students, educators, and administrators, TOSI advocates to school district boards, uplifting the voices of those who are directly affected within the educational system. If you would like to begin a branch of TOSI in your district, please reach out to tellourstoryinitiative@gmail.com.
 
Content Resources
 
2022 Student Sticker Contest
We are pleased to announce the winners of our 2022 Student Sticker Contest.
We congratulate all students who submitted entries.
Winners
Ena Bahk-Pi
9th Grade, Proof School, San Francisco, CA

Ena Bahk-Pi Ena Bahk-Pi
“Growing up Korean American, I rarely saw myself represented in the books I read or the media I consumed– or if I did, it would be a minor character without a real story to tell or a role to play. Even though I went to a school that was predominantly Asian, we didn’t learn about Asians in US history or Asian history, and this shaped how I saw my place in the world. I chose “know the whole story” as my message to encourage others to look beyond the dominant narrative, the story that has been told by the majority, and what they might think they know. I chose water lilies because they symbolize universality, koi fish for strength and perseverance, and a book for spreading knowledge.” - Ena Bahk-Pi

Karoline Huang
Masters Program, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

Karoline Huang Karoline Huang
“As a proud member of the AAPI community, it is important to me that we are well represented. This includes acknowledging that “AAPI” is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide group of people of many different backgrounds and ethnicities — around 50 different ethnic groups make up the AAPI community! I think that is beautiful and wanted to do my best to have this represented in my design. It is my love letter to my family, community, and AAPIs everywhere.” - Karoline Huang

Bernadine Tanglao
11th Grade, Norwalk High School, Norwalk, CA

Bernadine Tanglao Bernadine Tanglao
“As part of the Asian American community, it hurts that us Asians are viewed as the cause of COVID-19. It hurts that people are using the virus as an excuse to be racist. The inspiration behind my design is about anti-racism. I chose the mask to be significant because over the past few years, all I heard from my mom was, "Do you have a mask?" With this design, I wanted to send a message about destroying oppression and reducing violence, not only for Asians, but for other minorities as well. I wanted to also let people know we aren't a virus, therefore why choose violence? I'm sure it's been hectic for everyone ever since the pandemic started. It is also why I added "a multitude of stories," because we all have a different perspective on how everything has impacted our lives the last few years.” - Bernadine Tanglao

Diego Martinez
11th Grade, Norwalk High School, Norwalk, CA
Diego Martinez
Brandon Roca
11th Grade, Norwalk High School, Norwalk, CA
Brandon Roca
Judges
The panel of three judges from Schaumburg High School AAPI Allies club greatly enjoyed reviewing all of the outstanding artwork submitted.
Jennica Gallezo
Tomie Dacanay
Danielle Santos
Jaime Koch & Dana Lisowski,
AAPI Allies Co-Sponsors
 
2021 Student Sticker Contest
Student Sticker Contest Announcement
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2021 Student Sticker Contest!
Winner
Congratulations!
Gabrielle Watkins
6th Grade, Twin Rivers Middle School, Buford, GA
Judges
The panel of four judges greatly enjoyed reviewing all of the outstanding artwork submitted:
  • Students from Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, Canton, Michigan
    • 11th Grade: Sanjana Madapa. Ally Wang, Lead
    • 12th Grade: Devin Lu. Emily Ma
 
Community Partners and Resources
The 1990 Institute
The 1990 Institute offers educational programs and resources for middle and high school teachers and collaborates with organizations to advance knowledge, understanding, curiosity about Asian Americans and U.S.-China relations. For more information, click here.
Far East Deep South
This enlightening documentary follows a Chinese American family's journey to uncover their lost history in Mississippi, highlighting the generational effects of Jim Crow laws and the Chinese Exclusion Act on Asian Americans. It offers a poignant perspective on race, immigration, and American identity. Discussion guide and additional resources are available here.
Korean American Studies Education Foundation (KASEF)
KASEF’s purpose is to research, develop, and disseminate Korean American Studies curriculum and instructional resources, with emphasis on teacher training, professional development and youth education. For more information, click here.
Learn Our Stories Coalition
The Learn Our Stories coalition and movement believe that Asian Americans are an integral part of the American story — past, present, and future. Asian American stories, experiences, and identities are inherently American and should be included in our student’s education and curriculum. We believe that inclusive, historically accurate stories and experiences of diverse Texans and Americans will create a better education system for all. For more information, click here.
Make Us Visible
Make Us Visible empowers local communities to build curriculum and advocate for the integration of Asian American histories in K-12 classrooms. As a 100% volunteer-driven coalition at the state level, we have established 7 laws across 5 states over the last three years, with 24 state chapters. For more information, click here.
Orange County Department of Education
The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) serves some of Orange County’s most vulnerable student populations and provides support and mandated fiscal oversight to 28 school districts serving more than 600 schools and approximately 450,000 students. For more information, click here.
Poston Community Alliance
The mission of the Poston Community Alliance is to preserve Poston’s incarceration history to uphold social justice for all Americans, regardless of race and ethnicity. Through multimedia education and the preservation of stories, artifacts and historic structures, Poston’s unique multicultural history, involving Japanese Americans and Native Americans, will be kept alive. For more information, click here.
SDSU Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Center
SDSU APIDA Center works to facilitate students' academic and personal success by providing relevant and accessible programming, resources, and services. We are committed to the inclusion of APIDA people’s unique histories, cultures, and perspectives in campus programs and curriculum, with the ultimate goal of advancing racial and social justice. For more information, click here.
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)
SALDEF is the oldest Sikh American civil rights organization. Based in D.C., we empower Sikhs through education,community building, and advocacy. We shape policy, foster leadership, and create a brighter future for Sikh Americans. For more information, click here.
Teach AAPI
TeachAAPI’s mission is to redefine what it means to be Asian American in America, for future generations. We create space and opportunities for all students to learn about AAPI cultures and stories, driving deeper understanding and broader perspectives. We create nationally recognized inclusive curricula for pre-K to 12th grades. For more information, click here.
The E Pluribus Unum Project (TEPUP)
The E Pluribus Unum Project (TEPUP) is a NJ based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting an inclusive K-12 curriculum that reflects the diversity of our state. We seek to integrate AAPI history and narratives into public school classrooms by advocating for a holistic, pluralistic curriculum that elevates the voices of all underrepresented groups. For more information, click here.
The Sikh Coalition
The Sikh Coalition is the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the U.S., dedicated to protecting the rights of Sikh Americans through legal advocacy, education, and community empowerment, ensuring they can practice their faith freely and without fear of discrimination. For more information, click here.
Vincent Chin Institute
Vincent Chin Institute aims to empower Asian American and diverse communities to end hate, particularly anti-Asian violence. VCI’s mission is to build solidarity where there is little access to advocacy groups--a legacy from the 1982 national movement for justice for Vincent Chin after two white autoworkers murdered him in Detroit. For more information, click here.