America has been called both a melting pot and a tossed salad because of its history of immigration and assimilation. However, not all immigration groups were quickly or easily accepted into the American way of life. Asians were one of the groups that found it hard to come to the United States, and once they had immigrated, found their lives restricted in ways that other immigrant groups did not encounter. In spite of these obstacles, Asian Americans have contributed in many ways to our nation's history and continue to be one of the largest new immigrant groups today.

To learn more about the history and culture of these Asian Americans, Scholastic.com presents Asian American Heritage. This online activity introduces different stories and activities to students and reinforces that Asian Americans have diverse cultural backgrounds. This activity celebrates those differences especially during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May.

Students will:

1. Use Web technology to access American history and the Asian-American experience
2. Relive the Asian-American experience through firsthand accounts and biographies
3. Evaluate journals as historical artifacts, especially the concept of firsthand account vs. history text
4. Study Asian culture by completing an arts and craft activity that connects students, hands-on to the culture of a different country
5. Investigate immigration date, numbers, and patterns of Asians coming to the United States
6. Discuss Asian American writing with author interviews

Lesson 1: Asian-American History for Grades K-2

Lesson 2: Asian-American History for Grades 3-5

Lesson 3: Asian-American History for Grades 6-8

Supporting Books

Asian-American History Books