This site offers a curated collection of primary sources, lesson plans, and contextual timelines on U.S. immigration history. Developed under the direction of Dr. Madeline Hsu—an expert in Asian American Studies and editor of Asian American History: A Very Short Introduction—the resource provides accessible, classroom-ready materials with a strong focus on Asian American experiences and broader immigration narratives.
“Japanese Sea Lords” from Rogue History on PBS Learning Media offers an exploration into the sea lords of Japan’s maritime past, designed for students in grades 6-12. Labeled as “kaizoku,” or pirates, these lords reigned the seas from the fourteenth to sixteenth century, guarding vital sea zones and supervising maritime trade. This resource delves into their complex roles in Japanese society, challenging historical labels and revealing the legacy left by the Noshima Sea Lord family.
Another online curriculum designed by TEA, “Imaging Japanese History” enhances students’ visual literacy skills, historical thinking skills, and knowledge of Japanese history. Five online modules each provide a case study in the role of art in capturing and conveying not only the history of Japan, but the human experience at large.
The Asian American Education Project offers a collection of K-12 curriculum and lesson plans focused on the rich history of Asian Americans in the United States. By exploring the struggles and triumphs of Asian Americans from the first settlements to the present day, these resources highlight their contributions to major historical achievements, aiming to amplify their importance in American history and inspire a deeper understanding among students.
This short video from PBS Learning Media delves into the life of Ho Chí Minh, Prime Minister and President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, focusing on his path to becoming a communist and founding the Viet Minh, a national independence coalition. Designed for grades 9-12, this resource provides an engaging overview of Ho Chí Minh’s impact on Vietnamese history, offering essential context for understanding the Vietnam War.
“At-Home Adventures through Asia: Introduction to Vietnam” offers a rich, interactive exploration of Vietnamese culture tailored for K-6 students. Originally designed for parents and children, the activities in this program include a presentation on Vietnam and engaging artistic activities that can easily be adapted for classroom use, helping to build cultural empathy and global awareness.
This curated collection from Asia for Educators gathers a wide range of teaching materials on Confucianism. One highlight is the Confucianism lesson plan, which provides strategies for getting students to think more broadly about applying Confucian ideas—fostering both historical understanding and critical thinking. Another useful resource is the DBQs featuring selections from The Analects, which offer accessible primary sources alongside thoughtful discussion prompts that help students engage deeply with Confucian values.
Asia For Educators, at Columbia University’s Weatherhead East Asia Institute, has compiled a collection of resources for K-5 teachers. This collection is centered around Japan and offers resources for a wide variety of subjects: geography, language, culture, history, science, math, literature, arts & crafts, and drama & dance.
PBS LearningMedia’s Around the Globe: Japan is a large collection of resources including webpages, documents, audio files, images, videos, media galleries, and lesson plans centered around Japan, its society and its culture. Resources are available for grades 3-12.
The inclusion of queer history in curriculums is integral to teaching about world civilizations. With this featured article, high school students can be introduced to prevalent representations of bisexuality in Han Dynasty China. In the Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE) it was common for emperors to have both wives and male companions. Both men and women at the time used intimate relationships to gain favor with the upper court, and this openness to nonheterosexual intimacy led to legendary love stories that are still prevalent as symbols of queer love.
Within the context of queer activism, perhaps one of the most inspiring movements is that of the Chinese LGBTQ community. In pre-modern times, China had a long history of societally accepted homosexuality, a stark contrast to pre-modern Europe that largely viewed any homosexuality as an abomination. However, in the present period, the Chinese Party-State has suppressed and censored the LGBTQ community, prompting activists to fight back. This article discusses the ups and downs queer activism in China has experienced in the last few decades, the role of nongovernmental organizations as opportunities for change, and the political sensitivity surrounding human rights activism.
The “One-China Policy Primer” is a thorough resource that outlines the positions of the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), and the United States on the subject of the One-China concept and Taiwan’s political status.
