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Who Killed Vincent Chin: Civil Rights Activism From the website:
"In this lesson, students will:
(1) investigate evidence to determine how the killing of Vincent Chin was racially motivated,
(2) demonstrate how to stand up for a civil rights issue, and
(3) analyze the mistakes of the American justice system"
The lesson takes place over two 50-minute class periods with optional homework in between.
HTK Note: Please be advised that some of the film clips contain racist depictions, references to a "gentleman's club," and violence. For these reasons, it might be tempting to exclude teaching about Vincent Chin's murder or to do so in a sanitized manner. We encourage you to resist that temptation. Silencing histories like Vincent Chin's enable anti-Asian hate to continue unchecked. Instead, we suggest implementing this lesson thoughtfully, sensitively, and accurately. The lesson plan and website provide considerations on how to do so- please read them before teaching.
Additionally, referencing anyone of Asian descent as an “oriental,” a Japanese/Japanese American as a “Jap,” or that someone might be "handicaped" because they are Chinese are inappropriate and racist.
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Integrating Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans (APIDA) in Your Everyday Teaching These slides are from a webinar by the Asian American Education Project aimed to help teachers integrate APIDA histories into their existing teaching. The slides share examples of APIDA inclusion into existing curriculum, pedagogical strategies to do so, and reflective questions to help K-12 history teachers probe their own teaching.
Example teaching strategies/historical moments are:
- Angel Island and Ellis Island
- Japanese Incarceration during WWII, Treatment of Muslim Americans and South Asian Americans post 9/11, and U.S. Detention Facilities at the Border
- Tape vs. Hurley and Brown vs. Board
- Immigration Patterns of Southeast Asian refugees as a result of the Vietnam War
- Lue Gim Gong saves Florida's Citrus Plants
- Colonization of Hawai'i
Standards for each example are below.
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Asian American Education Resource Database This database provides lesson and unit plans as well as professional development for all K-12 teachers in order to promote the teaching and learning about Asian American histories, cultures, and identities. Currently there are over 260 incredible, vetted resources.
HTK note: all standards listed in the database are from Illinois. It is our hope that we will be able to align each resource in this database to Michigan standards, but we haven't had the opportunity yet.
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Cultural Diversity Inquiry Unit: What do Things I Wear Say About Me? From the unit plan:
"This third-grade inquiry expands students’ understandings of how groups represent themselves through what they wear. The compelling question—“What do things I wear say about me?”—engages students in an examination of material culture by considering the factors impacting their own choices of what they wear such as geography, culture, and religion. Students will examine the similarities and differences they share with their classmates, as well as diverse cultures in their communities and around the globe."
This inquiry is designed to for three, 45 minute lessons, but can and should be adapted to best meet your students.
HTK note: this lesson is designed for 3rd grade, but may be a better fit for 2nd. We've included standards for both grades.
