Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) began in May of 1978 as a week long celebration of history and culture. Congress chose the month of May for two reasons: First, May 7, 1843, was the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants. Second, May 10, 1869, marked the completion of the transcontinental railroad. On October 23, 1992, Congress expanded the celebration to include the entire month of May and APAHM became an annual event.

The Asian Pacific is a large and diverse region beginning in Eastern Russia and stretching far into the Pacific Ocean. The continent includes four major regional areas: East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia and the Pacific Islands. Asian Pacific includes over 25 different countries within these regions including China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, India, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Polynesia. The languages of these countries are as diverse as the people.

Almost 15 million Asian Pacific Americans (APA) live in the United States, making up 5% of the population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Chinese-Americans are the largest APA group. They are followed by Filipinos, Asian Indians, Vietnamese, Koreans, and Japanese. Asian Americans are the second fastest-growing minority group and the population is expected to reach 33.4 million by the year 2050. After English and Spanish, Chinese is the most widely spoken language in America.

This Web site highlights a variety of resources to help teachers celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in their classrooms.

Resources:

Scholastic Asian Pacific American Heritage Site
This Web site is a useful learning tool for both teachers and students. Students visiting the site independently can explore interactive maps and read first-hand historical accounts about Angel Island and World War II. Other resources include arts and crafts activities, teacher guides, and a recommended reading list.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/asian-american/index.htm

Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program
The Smithsonian sponsors a program to foster understanding of Asian ethnic groups in America. In addition to events at its headquarters in Washington, DC, the Smithsonian has also created lesson plans and curriculum guides for teachers.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/
resource_library/asian_american_resources.html

Center for Asian American Media—Educational Resources This organization has produced a variety of multimedia sites, films, and educational resources. Topics include immigration, Asian American identity, and Hawaiian history.
http://distribution.asianamericanmedia.org/educational-resources

Ask Asia
Ask Asia is the education site of Asia Society. It includes resources on Asian culture and the Asian Diaspora. Students can explore music, art, music, and literature and learn about global and cultural issues. Resources for teachers include lesson plans, background essays, maps and an online teacher community. http://www.askasia.org/