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

Korean Popular Culture in the United States Alignment with California Standards

 

History-Social Science Analysis Skills (HSS Analysis Skills CA)

  • Chronological and Spatial Thinking
    • Students compare the present with the past, evaluating the consequences of past events and decisions and determining the lessons that were learned.
    • Students analyze how change happens at different rates at different times; understand that some aspects can change while others remain the same; and understand that change is complicated and affects not only technology and politics but also values and beliefs.
  • Historical Research, Evidence, and Point of View
    • Students construct and test hypotheses; collect, evaluate, and employ information from multiple primary and secondary sources; and apply it in oral and written presentations.
  • Historical Interpretation
    • Students show the connections, causal and otherwise, between particular historical events and larger social, economic, and political trends and developments.
    • Students recognize the complexity of historical causes and effects, including the limitations on determining cause and effect.

 

 

World History, Culture, and Geography: The Modern World (HSS Content Standards, 10th)

  • 10.11 Students analyze the integration of countries into the world economy and the information, technological, and communications revolutions (e.g., television, satellites, computers).

 

 

United States History and Geography: Continuity and Change in the Twentieth Century (HSS Content Standards, 11th)

  • 11.11 Students analyze the major social problems and domestic policy issues in contemporary American society.

 

 

Common Core ELA Grades 6-12 Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, & Technical Subjects (CC EH)

  • English Language Arts Standards – History/Social Studies
    • Key Ideas and Details:
      • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.1 and 11-12.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information.
    • Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
      • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.7: Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address a question or solve a problem.
  • English Language Arts Standards – Writing
    • Text Types and Purposes:
      • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.1 and 11-12.1: Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
    • Production and Distribution of Writing:
      • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.4 and 11-12.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
    • Range of Writing:
      • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.10 and 11-12.10: Write routinely over extended time frames (time for reflection and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
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