How Teachers are Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Every May for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, teachers, schools, and organizations celebrate the contributions AAPI people have made to the history, culture, and successes of our communities. This month, DonorsChoose teachers are drawing on their skills and creativity to give their students a better understanding of the richness and diversity that exists within the AAPI community.

We reached out to our teachers and dug into some awesome projects for some AAPI month inspiration.

Showcasing Diversity

Ms. Yokoyama makes sure to remind her students that, “AAPI Heritage Month is a time to recognize, celebrate and honor ALL Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander ancestry.”  In her school they pay special attention to the uniqueness of the different cultures within the AAPI Community. 

She encourages her students to use the term “Lunar New Year” to be inclusive of all the Asian communities — including but not limited to China — that celebrate the holiday. They also have Asian Culture Night where they hold workshops for parents and students and offer authentic food, read relevant books, teach dances, and share stories of inspiring Asian people. 

Mr. Pond has identified a gap in AAPI education in his own high school experience; other than the Vietnam War, AAPI topics and subjects weren’t really talked about.

“I do believe that it’s important for students to learn about AAPI heritage and culture because it’s a chance to understand and appreciate a diverse group of people who are oftentimes stereotyped and caricatured.”

—Mr. Pond

For future AAPI months, he is planning to showcase graphic novels, books, and artifacts from various AAPI cultures. For him, it’s a way to celebrate the school’s AAPI students, teachers and staff and demonstrate support and belonging from the surrounding community.

Cuisine, Clothing, and Culture

A person’s taste, both literally and figuratively, grows with exposure to different experiences. For many students, exploring different cultures gives them the freedom to develop their curiosity and acceptance of others.

Ms. Nakamura knows that the fastest way to a student’s heart and mind is through their belly. Even though she teaches in the 4th largest district in the United States, her students aren’t aware that Asia is made up of many countries, including her own, Japan. 

“When I teach them that Pika-chu, Toyota, and Nintendo are all from Japan, they are always surprised.”

—Ms. Makamura

To counteract this, she brings her own Japanese culture to the classroom, making origami hats and carp streamers, and teaching them to use chopsticks to eat noodles making slurping noises! By sharing her heritage, she is helping her students understand the variety of backgrounds (and delicious foods) that make up the AAPI community.

Mrs. Purin celebrates the AAPI community year round by finding fun ways to incorporate games and dances from different Asian cultures, such as the Maori song called Tititorea and the stick game that goes with it, or the dance from the Phillipines called Tinikling.

“One of my students last year had a grandmother from the Philippines and asked her about the dance… her grandmother was so excited to hear that [she] was learning it and they had something they could talk about and share.”

—Ms. Purin

Did you know you can request clothing, food, and other materials to help celebrate AAPI culture through DonorsChoose? Get started by visiting donorschoose.org/teachers

Books, Books, and More Books

The best way to open a student’s mind is to get them to open a book! It takes them beyond the superficial and shows them that even if someone looks different, eats different food, or speaks a different language, all people share stories of love and growth.

Mrs. O’Neill is breaking down stereotypes by incorporating stories about Asian Americans into her class’ daily independent reading time. Her students read books and share about their learning through weekly student-led book talks.

“[These books] will allow my students to understand and experience Asian and Asian-American people through authentic texts in which they will be able to make real life connections.”

—Mrs. O’Neill

How are you celebrating the AAPI Community this month and beyond?

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Do you have everything you need to celebrate the AAPI community during AAPI Heritage Month and beyond? Create a project for what you and your students need!

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