According to asianpacificheritage.gov “Asian Pacific American Heritage month pays tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success.” This Web portal is a collaborative project of the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. It’s a wonderful resource for learning more and viewing exhibits and collections in both audio and video about the rich history of people from China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Samoa; and in South Asia, includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore, and Bhutan.
Introducing all cultures and ethnicities to children regardless of their familiarity is an important task for adults. Understanding diversity broadens our humanity and empathy for one another. It also decreases feelings of isolation and adds a variety of perspectives to lessons and conversations.
When I was a seventh-grade classroom teacher, we learned about Asian Pacific American Heritage by diving deep into novels written by #Ownvoices. Students loved reading Dragon Wings by Chinese American author, Laurence Yep and Kite Fighter, by Korean American author, Linda Sue Parks. Afterwards we built and flew kites which is a symbol throughout each.
I’d encourage you to read more books by those within the heritage to learn about their lives and contributions.
Happy Learning,
Mrs. Pizzo
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