Asian Pacific American Heritage Month of May
BACKGROUND
In 2000, the State of Washington formally recognized May as an annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and encouraged public institutions, including public schools, to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans (APA) to our state and our nation. The state also required the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) to coordinate statewide celebratory activities.
APA HERITAGE MONTH RESOURCE KIT FOR WASHINGTON STATE K-12 SCHOOLS
The CAPAA created the APA Heritage Month Resource Kit for Washington State K-12 Schools to help in the curriculum development and integration of Asian Pacific American (APA) history in K-12 teaching strategies. It contains the following:
- APA History in Washington State poster
- APA Firsts poster
- APA Heritage Resource Guide for Washington State K-12 Schools (PDF 4Mb)
What the Resource Guide Offers
Section 1 to 3 of the Resource Guide have materials that can easily be adapted to existing curricula or integrated into developing curricula. Section 2 and 3 also offers developed curriculum ideas; books for teachers and students of primary, middle/upper, and high school levels; and recommend select videos and resources for the classroom. Latter sections give snapshots of APA history and APA pioneers, ideas on how to celebrate APA heritage month, which Washington State officially recognizes every May, and general resource contacts.
Meets Washington State Learning Goals
Section 1-5 are easily integrated to meet Washington State's Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs) around Goals 1, 2, and 3. (See table below for examples of EALRs goals and objectives that would readily apply.) These standards, seen in a multicultural reality, call for a teaching and learning environment that prepare students to be academically, culturally and socially literate. The integration of APA history into the delivery of existing and new curricula will engage the natural intellectual curiosity of students and help prepare them to take on the challenges and opportunities of a complex and diverse state and nation. It will also help nurture a citizenry that will pursue a healthy and democratic society.
