Course Content
Lesson 1: The Korean Diaspora and Korean Americans
Students are introduced to Korean Diaspora and Korean American immigration patterns and experiences. They compare experiences of Korean Americans in the first and second waves of immigrants and consider how these experiences have evolved over the the 20th century. They analyze oral histories and complete a web-based short research project on locations of Koreans and Korean Americans.
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Lesson 2: The First Koreatown and the Legacy of Dosan Ahn Chang Ho
Students explore the life of Dosan Ahn Chang Ho, his immigration to the United States, and his life as an activist and community builder. They examine how the first Koreatown was established in Riverside, California, and compare the experiences of Korean, Mexican, and women citrus pickers and packers. Finally, they identify Dosan's contributions to the United States and Korea.
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Lesson 3: ​Immigrant Experiences ​of Korean Americans: The Sammy Lee Story
Students are introduced to the experiences of Korean American immigrants through Sammy Lee’s life story. They reflect upon and critically analyze the responses of Sammy Lee and his family to the racism and discrimination they faced as immigrants, consider ways the immigration laws have changed over the 20th century, and identify ways to advocate for Korean American immigrants.
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Lesson 4: The Korean Independence Movement and Korean American Identity in the U.S.
Students situate President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points Peace Program and 1919 speech to congress in the development of the Korean Independence Movement. They engage in a jigsaw activity and examine original documents and news reports from the time period to identify how the Korean Independence Movement shaped and was shaped by the formation of the Korean American identify in the United States. Students compose a letter to President Wilson to encourage the United States to support the Korean Independence Movement.
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Lesson 5: Colonel Young Oak Kim: Hero and Humanitarian
Students explore the life of Young Oak Kim, and identify contributions he has made to the United States. They complete a Think/Write/Pair Share/Group Share as they reflect on what it is like to be a Korean American/minority struggling through racial barriers like Young Oak Kim. They explore what kinds of microaggressions Kim encountered and consider how he responded to those actions. Students deepen their understanding of the life of Young Oak Kim as a U.S. citizen, war hero and community activist, and they annotate and discuss an excerpt from the biography, Unsung Hero: The Colonel Young O. Kim Story, by Woo Sung Han. They construct a biopoem and/or an argument essay on his life and contributions to American society.
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Lesson 6: Aftermath of the Korean War and Korean Transnational Adoptions
Students explore the ending and aftermath of the Korean War. They learn about the history of the Korean War and what war was like from the perspective of Koreans. Students learn about one of the many groups of displaced civilians whose lives were forever changed by the war, Korean children. They learn how Korean children became central to international aid efforts that led to the advent of transnational adoptions. ​ They analyze an article from 1953 about a Korean transnational adoptee and consider the broader impacts of Korean transnational adoptions on Koreans and Korean-Americans. Finally, students learn about transnational adoptions from the perspective of Deann Borshay Liem, a Korean adoptee.
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Lesson 7: Saigu and Social Justice
Students are introduced to 1992 LA Civil Unrest and how it impacted Korean Americans. They reflect upon and critically analyze the responses of various individuals and groups to the unrest, examine issues of justice, and consider the legacy of Saigu for Korean Americans today.
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Lesson 8: Korean Americans in the 21st Century
Students explore Korean popular culture in the United States, including K-Pop, Korean and Korean American films, food, and more. They compare and contrast K-POP and American Popular music, conduct short research on an example of Hallyu, analyze films, conduct research for a biographical presentation of a notable Korean American, and compose a memoir essay of their own experiences
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Korean American Ethnic Studies
About Lesson

​Activity 2: ​Where Was the First Koreatown and Who Was Dosan Ahn Chang Ho?

  Students explore the life of Dosan Ahn Chang Ho, his immigration to the United States, and his life as an activist and community builder. They examine how the first Koreatown was established in Riverside, California, and compare the experiences of Korean, Mexican, and women citrus pickers and packers. They identify Dosan’s contributions to the United  States and Korea and consider ways to make contributions of their own.

Dosan Ahn Chang Ho picking oranges in Southern California circa 1910 (Source: Wikipedia)

 Activity Questions  

  • What were the characteristics of the first Koreatown in Riverside, California?
  • Who was Dosan Ahn Chang Ho?
  • What was life like for immigrant and women workers in the early California citrus industry?
  • What contributions did he make to California and to the United States?
  • What contributions did he make to the Korean American community?
  • What contributions did he make to Korea?
  • What can we contribute to the immigrant community like Korean American community, California, the United States, and the world?​

Instructional Strategies  

  • To support these activities, use the Lesson 2 Presentation.

  ​Introduction  

  • Introduce the lesson using the first slide of Lesson 2.  Help students identify Riverside, California as the location of the statue.

  Introduction to Dosan Ahn Chang Ho and the First Koreatown  

  • Review the slides about Dosan Ahn Chang Ho and Pachappa Camp. (As a special treat, bring in quarters of navel oranges to share with students.)

  Activity: Similarities and Differences  

  • Divide students into groups of 3 or 6 and assign each member (or pair of members) one of the three articles (Pachappa Camp, A Woman’s View, and The Roots of Inequality). 
  • Have students read the articles and complete the Activity 2 Article Analysis Worksheet. 
  • When lists are complete, have students regroup and create a 3-circle Venn Diagram of similarities and differences between experiences of the three groups of immigrants-Koreans, Mexicans, and women of color.  
  • Share and discuss findings.

  Dosan’s Support of Korean Independence  

  • Review the remaining slides in Lesson 2.  Take time to explain that Korea was under the control of Japan and that Dosan was fighting for Korean Independence.

  Quick-Writes Activity  

  • Provide students with the following prompt and allow them five minutes to Quick-write their response. Call on student volunteers to share their reflections.
    • There are many U.S. memorials of Dosan Ahn Chang Ho. Write for 5 minutes about why he is so revered in the United States and Korea. Use these questions to guide your response:
      • Who was Dosan Ahn Chang Ho?
      • What contributions did he make to California?
      • What contributions did he make to the Korean American community?
      • What contributions did he make to Korea?

  Closing Activity  

  • End class by having some students share their Quick-Writes about Dosan Ahn Chang Ho and his contributions to California, the United States, the Korean American community, and Korea?
  • Pose the question: What could we contribute to the immigrant community like Korean American community, California, the United States, and the world?
  • Have this lead into the Summative Assessment for Lesson 2. See Lesson 2 Civic Engagement/Service Learning Extension for resources.

  Resources

  • Lesson 2 Teachers’ Guide and Lesson 2 Presentation are found under Lesson 2 Overview.
  • Article on Pachappa Camp
  • Article on Roots of Inequality
  • Article on A Woman’s View
  • Activity 2 Article Analysis
  • Additional resources are found under Lesson 2 Overview, Activity 2, Lesson 2 Videos, Lesson 2 Assessments, and Civic Engagement Support.

Article: A Woman’s World (PDF)

Article: Roots of Inequality (PDF)

 

Article: Pachappa Camp (PDF)

Article Analysis Worksheet (PDF)

 

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