K–5 Lesson Plans
Lesson plan created by Faiza Zaman
Grade Level: 3–5
Tala Learns to Siva by Kealani Netane is an empowering look into finding inner strength and family connection through a Samoan cultural dance, taualuga. This lesson plan includes historical context, guiding questions, and corresponding activities.
Lesson plan created by Diana Ragasa Tavares
Grade Level: 2–5
Say My Name by Joanna Ho is a moving story about six children and the beauty and significance of their names – and pronouncing them correctly. This two-part lesson plan includes a close reading guide, poetry exercise, and historical application.
Lesson plan created by Michael Lee
Grade Level: K–3
Finding Papa by Angela Pham Krans is an inspiring tale about a young girl and her mother journeying from Vietnam to the United States to find her Papa. This lesson plan includes a detailed reading guide and comprehension questions.
Lesson plan created by Jenn Liang
Grade Level: 2–4
Coolies by Yin tells the story of two brothers who migrate from China to California to work on the Transcontinental Railroad. This lesson plan includes historical context, reading guide, a main activity and optional extension activities.
Lesson plan created by Sulynn Miao, Teach Asian American Stories
Grade Level: 2–4
Connie Chung was the first woman to co-anchor CBS Evening News and the first Asian American to anchor a major American newscast. This Roots & Routes lesson plan includes an overview of Conne Chung’s journalistic achievements and a mock news broadcast activity.
Lesson plan created by Sulynn Miao, Teach Asian American Stories
Grade Level: K–5
New Jersey is made up of several Asian American ethnoburbs, which are suburban neighborhoods where ethnic communities have formed. This Roots & Routes lesson plan includes image and data analysis activities of New Jersey’s Asian American ethnoburbs.
Lesson plan created by Sulynn Miao, Teach Asian American Stories
Grade Level: K–5
Sana Amanat co-created the Marvel character, Kamala Khan, also known as Ms. Marvel, a Pakistani American Muslim girl from New Jersey—just like Sana. This Roots & Routes lesson plan includes historical context, media analysis, and a “I Am a Superhero” activity.
Lesson plan created by Sulynn Miao, Teach Asian American Stories
Grade Level: K–5
In 1870, a group of Chinese laborers migrated to Belleville, New Jersey to work at the Passaic Steam Laundry factory, establishing the first-ever Chinese community on the East Coast. This Roots & Routes lesson plan includes historical context and an image analysis.
Lesson plan created by Sulynn Miao, Teach Asian American Stories
Grade Level: K–5
Starting in the 1880s, Bengali Muslim merchants established a thriving network, traveling between West Bengal and the beach towns of New Jersey to sell handicrafts. This Roots & Routes lesson plan includes media analysis on the embroidery art of chikankari.
