Korean American Ethnic Studies
0% Completed
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.
Teacher Guide
Video - 00:00 mins
Alignment with California Content Standards
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 1.1: Why did Koreans leave their Country and Disperse around the Globe? What is the Korean Diaspora?
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 1.2: Who are Korean Americans? Why did they leave Korea and come to the U.S.?
Video - 00:00 mins
Video Resources
Video - 00:00:00 mins
Summative Assessment: Oral History Analysis
Video - 00:00 mins
Extension: Web-Based Research Report
Video - 00:00 mins
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.
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.
Teacher Guide
Video - 00:00 mins
Alignment with California Content Standards
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 3.1: Who is Sammy Lee? What was the Immigrant Experience of his Family?
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 3.2: How did U.S. Immigration Laws shape Sammy Lee's Life?
Video - 00:00 mins
Assessments
Video - 00:00 mins
Extension: Literature and Writing Extension: Book Reviews and Storytelling
Video - 00:00 mins
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.
Teacher Guide
Video - 00:00 mins
Alignment with California Content Standards
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 4.1: How was the Korean Independence Movement Impacted by Wilson’s Fourteen Points?
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 4.2 How did the Korean Independence Movement shape and become shaped by Formation of the Korean American Identity in the United States?
Video - 00:00 mins
Assessments
Video - 00:00 mins
Extension: Writing Extensions
Video - 00:00 mins
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.
Teacher Guide
Video - 00:00 mins
Alignment with California Content Standards
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 5.1: Who was the First Asian American to Command a U.S. Battalion?
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 5.2: How is Colonel Young Oak Kim an Unsung Hero?
Video - 00:00 mins
Assessment & Extensions:: Argumentative Essay
Video - 00:00 mins
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.
Teacher Guide
Video - 00:00 mins
Alignment with California Content Standards
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 6.1: Aftermath of the Korean War
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 6.2: Korean War Orphans
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 6.3: Experiences of Korean Transnational Adoptees
Video - 00:00 mins
Assessment: Comparison/Contrast Essay & Research on Korean Transnational Adoptee Experiences
Video - 00:00 mins
Extensions: Writing Extensions
Video - 00:00 mins
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.
Teacher Guide
Video - 00:00 mins
Alignment with California Content Standards
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 7.1: A Cry for Justice
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 7.2: Experiences of Korean Americans during the 1992 LA Civil Unrest
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 7.3: The Legacy of Saigu
Video - 00:00 mins
Assessment: T-Chart of Cause and Effects of the 1992 LA Civil Unrest
Video - 00:00 mins
Extention: Research Project
Video - 00:00 mins
Extention: Research Project Supplemental Material: Combating Myths: 30 years after Rodney King
Video - 00:00 mins
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
Teacher Guide
Video - 00:00 mins
Alignment with California Content Standards
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 8.1: Hallyu and K-Pop: A Global Phenomenon
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 8.2: Oscar Winners: A closer look at Minari
Video - 00:00 mins
Activity 8.3: Korean Americans Past, Present, and Future
Video - 00:00 mins
Music Video Resources
Video - 00:00 mins
Assessment & Extension: Memoir Essay Plan, Biographical Research Presentation, Notable Korean Americans
Video - 00:00 mins
Assessments
Formative Assessments Directions for these assessments are provided under each Activity.
- Activity 7.1
- Brainstorming Definitions
- Timeline Activity
- T-Chart Justice
- Think-Pair-Share
- Activity 7.2
- Legacy Project Video Activity
- Activity 7.3
- Quick-Writes on Legacy
Summative Assessment (directions below)
- Cause/Effects T-Chart Graphic Organizer
Instructional Strategies
- Use the Lesson 7: Saigu – The 1992 LA Civil Unrest (Summative Assessment) presentation to support this assessment.
T-Chart of Causes/Effects of the 1992 LA Civil Unrest
- Distribute the Cause/Effect T-Chart to students.
- Determine if you will allow them to work in pairs or small groups. Regardless of group size, require every student to complete and submit their own worksheet.
- Ask students to identify and explain at least five causes and effects of the 1992 LA Civil Unrest. Encourage them to draw ideas from lectures, readings, and their completed Timeline, Justice T-Chart, Legacy Project Interview Analysis, and Legacy Quick-Writes assignments.
Literature and Writing Extension (UNDER DEVELOPMENT)
- Memoir of a Cashier Review of an Autobiographical Book
- Autobiographical Essay
Worksheet T-Chart Cause/Effect (PDF)
Finish Course Early?
You have not completed all required lessons and assessments.
Your Progress
0%

