Learning Together Through Reflections on the 9/11 Anniversary
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001. As we reflect on this time together, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center is pleased to present new Learning Together resources about this anniversary, including two new videos in the We Are Not A Stereotype: Breaking down Asian Pacific American bias series.
What are these resources about?
Many stereotypes negatively affect Sikh and Muslim American communities in the United States. These stereotypes existed long before 9/11, and they continue today, twenty years later. Our new resources introduce you to Vishavjit Singh, a Sikh American illustrator and educator; and Alison Kysia, Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye, Homayra Ziad, Sahar Aziz, and Margari Hill, Muslim American women artists, educators, and scholars. In these videos, all speakers talk about stereotypes that negatively affect Sikh and Muslim American communities in the United States, what they love about their identities and faiths, and the diversity of Sikh and Muslim American communities in the US. As you watch these videos, we encourage you to think about the stories and information they are sharing with us through these questions, which you can use for quiet reflection or a group discussion:
Reflecting on the 9/11 anniversary in a rapidly changing world.
It is essential to reflect on this anniversary by listening to as many perspectives as possible. Listening to and learning about the lived experiences of diasporic communities connected to the South West Asian and North African (SWANA) region helps us better understand the complexities of Asian American narratives, histories, and contemporary life. As you include and expand Asian American stories in your teaching practice and learning, we encourage you to reflect on the stories from SWANA diasporic communities, such as this musical performance below by Qais Essar, an Afghan American musician and composer. As you view this video, consider the following questions, which you may use for your own quiet reflection or a group discussion:
In your reflections, we encourage you to think about the following keywords, below, and their interconnections with current events in Afghanistan, the 9/11 anniversary, and many stories related to Asian American and Pacific Islander communities today:
What do these words mean to you? Who do you see when you read these words? We have created a new Smithsonian Learning Lab collection that will provide definitions of these words and additional Smithsonian and community-created resources to contextualize their meanings related to broader Asian American and Pacific Islander histories. These resources can be used for lesson planning or as reading assignments for students.
Use our new resources to talk about and contextualize the 9/11 anniversary.
These new Learning Together and We Are Not A Stereotype resources will help you and your students gain personal insights on the 9/11 anniversary from Sikh and Muslim American perspectives. Explore the links below to read new interviews, watch new videos, and access links to community-created resources that can be used in various learning environments.
The Turbaned Seekers of Truth: Sikhs in America
In this new interview, you will meet Vishavjit Singh (he/him), an illustrator, writer, speaker, performance artist, and creator of Sikhtoons.com. He shares with us how he navigates conversations about race with students, what educators can take away from learning about principles in the Sikh faith, and why there is so much power behind the act of storytelling.
Muslims and Islamophobia in the 9/11 Era
In this new interview, you will meet Alison Kysia (she/her), a multimedia artist whose work centers Muslims, Islam, and Islamophobia, and founder of the 99 Clay Vessels. She shares with us how she created the 99 Clay Vessels, the connections between community-building and storytelling, and how education is a process of humanization.
Kindness Heals
What message of hope do you want to share with others?
From the xenophobia towards Asians and Asian Americans caused by COVID-19, the disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases affecting Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, and to the national uprisings surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement, the times we are living in have brought attention to longstanding injustices and how we can hope to change for the better. We can become stronger together as we embrace the lesson that #KindnessHeals.
Connecting you to Asian American and Pacific Islander voices and stories.
The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center’s Learning Together page launched in 2019 to connect the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center’s programs, curatorial expertise, and community anniversaries with K12 educators across the country. This page serves as an online venue for educational content featuring interviews with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community members, links to community-created educational resources, book recommendations, discussion ideas, and more.
In this page you will find resources in the following categories:
• Addressing anti-Asian racism and xenophobia
• Activities and videos for students, families, and lifelong learners
• Content complementing Social Studies units
• Resources about Asian American and Pacific Islander voices in literature
These grids will expand with new content and activities throughout the year. We hope you will continue to visit this page!
Continue scrolling down to view content and resources that can be modified for Social Studies and English Language Arts lessons, and activities suitable for all ages.
Resources Addressing Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia
Click on any title to visit the page
A Learning Together feature with educators and researchers Sung Sohn and Jenny Chan. This resource includes:
- Links to archival resources about the histories of Asian and Asian American women in US history
- Links to lesson plans that will complement Ethnic Studies curriculum
A Learning Together interview with Educate to Empower’s Virginia Nguyen and Stacy Yung about their #STOPAAPIHATE workshops for educators. This interview includes:
- Tips on how to gain administrator support to build anti-racist classrooms
- Links to Educate to Empower’s resources
An art-making activity by Nguyên Khôi Nguyễn that invites you to imagine what is underneath our masks! This activity includes:
- Detailed instructions about how to make the portrait
- List of suggested materials
- Discussion Questions
A three-part activity for youth, 13-18 years old, reflecting on 2020 and looking toward 2021. This includes three activities that can be done at home:
- Decorating a face mask
- Writing a letter about the future
- Identifying a support network
Smithsonian APA’s response to the dual pandemics of 2020, COVID-19 and racism.
- Links to resources about the history of anti-Asian racism in the United States
- Links to resources about Asian American and Pacific Islander history and heritage
Read an interview with the Immigrant History Initiative’s founders and restorative justice educator Sarah Appelbaum on restorative justice as a tool for addressing anti-Asian racism. You can also download the Initiative’s Restorative Justice Dialogue resource, a guide to addressing anti-Asian racism with students.
A Learning Together feature with anti-bias educator and consultant Liz Kleinrock. This resource includes:
- Tips for educators on how to talk about racism
- Liz’s TED Talk, “How to teach kids to talk about taboo topics”
Activities and Videos and for Students, Families and Lifelong Learners
Click on any title to visit the page
A web series engaging Asian American heritage “in real life,” in progress, across a range of media and communities. Includes:
- Poetry readings
- Zine workshop
- Readings by authors
- Musical performance
An arts education module series introducing new art-making ideas created by educators and AAPI artists. Includes:
- 4 art-making ideas, each with a Learning Lab collection, a downloadable PDF, recorded webinars, and video tutorials
- Links to artist webpages
An online exhibition curated with love by the Smithsonian APA Center. This resource includes:
- Short films
- Poems & music
- Audio and video meditations
An activity book featuring coloring sheets, writing prompts, discussion starters & more. Created by artists, scholars & activists. Available as a free downloadable PDF and includes 5 ready-to-print activities about action, empathy, ability, wellness and beauty.
A 7-minute short film profile of queer elder Lenore Chinn on queer artmaking and organizing in the Bay Area. Includes links to resources about LGBTQIA terminologies.
An online exhibition of video poems featuring 12 queer Asian and Pacific Islander diasporic poets. Includes 12 video poems and links to resources about LGBTQIA terminologies.
A short video and postcard series pairing images of film icon Anna May Wong with poetry by Sally Wen Mao. This resource includes:
- One 4-minute film
- Four downloadable postcards
- Make Your Own Postcard activity
An online exhibition and tribute featuring a series of reflections from fourteen artists on the life and legacy of Yuri Kochiyama. This resource includes:
- Nine images
- Two short videos
- Two audio tracks
- Accompanying short reflections from artists
Content to Complement Social Studies Units
Hover over title to see details, click to visit
This page includes:
- 40-60 minute talks on video
- Links to Learning Lab collections
- Q+A sessions with some speakers about why the topics in discussion are important for inclusion in classroom settings and teaching practices.
This page includes:
- Documentary series, “Language of a Nation”
- Podcast made by students in Grades 1-3 about a Native Hawaiian tradition
- General information about the initiative
This page includes:
- Worksheets for students
- Tips on how to teach the activities in classrooms
- Links to digital resources that expand on Japanese American World War II history
This page includes:
- Brief biographies and historical images
- Video interview with a scholar
- Learning Lab collection
- Links to articles about the overthrow
This page includes:
- Artist interview
- Music video
- Links to archives and museums focused on Arab American histories
- Close-look activity
This page includes:
- Interview with a scholar and educator
- Learning Lab collection
- Activity using an object from the Smithsonian collection
This page includes:
- Interviews with two scholars and experts on Filipino American history
- Links to community archives
- Links to book recommendations
This page includes:
- Interviews with two poets and educators
- Links to original poems
- Link to archive about history of Guåhan/Guam
- Book recommendations
- Short animated film
Resources about Asian American and Pacific Islander Voices in Literature
Click on any title to visit the page
A Learning Together feature for teachers about the importance of selecting diverse books for the classroom. This page includes:
- Interviews with two scholars
- Links to book titles and resources about the importance of representation in literature
Website featuring book titles for all ages. This page includes:
- Book reviews
- Author interviews
A graphic diary of the early pandemic by artist Nguyên Khôi Nguyễn. This resource includes a viewable sketchbook diary.
A series of mini comics from nine artists adapting exhibition texts from I Want the Wide American Earth. This resource includes a 15-page viewable e-comic.
Resources Addressing Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia
Click on any title to visit the page
A Learning Together feature with educators and researchers Sung Sohn and Jenny Chan. This resource includes:
- Links to archival resources about the histories of Asian and Asian American women in US history
- Links to lesson plans that will complement Ethnic Studies curriculum
A Learning Together interview with Educate to Empower’s Virginia Nguyen and Stacy Yung about their #STOPAAPIHATE workshops for educators. This interview includes:
- Tips on how to gain administrator support to build anti-racist classrooms
- Links to Educate to Empower’s resources
An art-making activity by Nguyên Khôi Nguyễn that invites you to imagine what is underneath our masks! This activity includes:
- Detailed instructions about how to make the portrait
- List of suggested materials
- Discussion Questions
A Learning Together feature with anti-bias educator and consultant Liz Kleinrock. This resource includes:
- Tips for educators on how to talk about racism
- Liz’s TED Talk, “How to teach kids to talk about taboo topics”
A three-part activity for youth, 13-18 years old, reflecting on 2020 and looking toward 2021. This includes three activities that can be done at home:
- Decorating a face mask
- Writing a letter about the future
- Identifying a support network
Smithsonian APA’s response to the dual pandemics of 2020, COVID-19 and racism.
- Links to resources about the history of anti-Asian racism in the United States
- Links to resources about Asian American and Pacific Islander history and heritage
Download the Immigrant History Initiative’s Restorative Justice Dialogue resource, a guide to address anti-Asian racism with students.
- Links to the Initiative’s restorative dialogue resource and other educational materials
- Interview with the Initiative’s founders and restorative justice educator Sarah Appelbaum
Activities and Videos and for Students, Families and Lifelong Learners
Click on any title to visit the page
A web series engaging Asian American heritage “in real life,” in progress, across a range of media and communities. Includes:
- Poetry readings
- Zine workshop
- Readings by authors
- Musical performance
An arts education module series introducing new art-making ideas created by educators and AAPI artists. Includes:
- 4 art-making ideas, each with a Learning Lab collection, a downloadable PDF, recorded webinars, and video tutorials
- Links to artist webpages
An online exhibition curated with love by the Smithsonian APA Center. This resource includes:
- Short films
- Poems & music
- Audio and video meditations
An activity book featuring coloring sheets, writing prompts, discussion starters & more. Created by artists, scholars & activists. Available as a free downloadable PDF and includes 5 ready-to-print activities about action, empathy, ability, wellness and beauty.
A 7-minute short film profile of queer elder Lenore Chinn on queer artmaking and organizing in the Bay Area. Includes links to resources about LGBTQIA terminologies.
An online exhibition of video poems featuring 12 queer Asian and Pacific Islander diasporic poets. Includes 12 video poems and links to resources about LGBTQIA terminologies.
A short video and postcard series pairing images of film icon Anna May Wong with poetry by Sally Wen Mao. This resource includes:
- One 4-minute film
- Four downloadable postcards
- Make Your Own Postcard activity
An online exhibition and tribute featuring a series of reflections from fourteen artists on the life and legacy of Yuri Kochiyama. This resource includes:
- Nine images
- Two short videos
- Two audio tracks
- Accompanying short reflections from artists
Content to Complement Social Studies Units
Click on any title to visit the page
An educational video series for educators, by educators. This series includes 40-60 minute talks breaking down various topics in Asian Pacific American histories that question and challenge what it means to be accepted as American. The content is for educators as they plan history, social studies and civics lessons. The videos can be shared with students in Grades 6-8, 9-12, and in higher education classrooms. This page includes:
- 40-60 minute talks on video
- Links to Learning Lab collections
- Q+A sessions with some speakers about why the topics in discussion are important for inclusion in classroom settings and teaching practices.
A portal about the Our Stories Digital Storytelling Initiative that supports the dissemination and perpetuation of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island cultures through the media arts. The content in this portal can be used to modify units about Hawaiian Kingdom history, US history, and Media Arts activities for Grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. This page includes:
- Documentary series, “Language of a Nation”
- Podcast made by students in Grades 1-3 about a Native Hawaiian tradition
- General information about the initiative
In partnership with the National Veterans Network, elementary and middle school activities about the Nisei veteran experience during World War II. Both resources include activities for students about everyday life in America’s concentration camps. These activities can be used in units about US history, Civics, World War II history, and activities meant to build empathy, for Grades 2-5, 6-8. This page includes:
- Worksheets for students
- Tips on how to teach the activities in classrooms
- Links to digital resources that expand on Japanese American World War II history
A Learning Together feature about Queen Kapi‘olani, Queen Lili‘uokalani, and the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. This content can be modified to fit units about Hawaiian Kingdom history, US history and Activism, for Grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. This page includes:
- Brief biographies and historical images
- Video interview with a scholar
- Learning Lab collection
- Links to articles about the overthrow
A Learning Together feature about the Little Syria neighborhood in New York City from 1880-1940, and immigration from Greater Syria to the US. This content can be modified to fit units about US history, Immigration and Migration and Ellis Island for Grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. This page includes:
- Artist interview
- Music video
- Links to archives and museums focused on Arab American histories
- Close-look activity
A Learning Together feature about the legacy of the transcontinental railroad and labor of Chinese immigrants. This content can be modified to fit units about US history, Immigration and Migration and the Chinese Exclusion Act, for Grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. This page includes:
- Interview with a scholar and educator
- Learning Lab collection
- Activity using an object from the Smithsonian collection
A Learning Together feature about the importance of Filipino American history as a vital part of understanding American history. This content can be modified to fit units about US history, Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, Immigration and Migration, Activism and Labor Movements, for Grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. This page includes:
- Interviews with two scholars and experts on Filipino American history
- Links to community archives
- Links to book recommendations
A Learning Together feature reflecting on the 45th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon through the intersections of war, migration and the environment. This content can be modified to fit units about US history, Vietnam War, Southeast Asian History, Pacific Islands History and Military Expansion in the Pacific, for Grades 9-12. This page includes:
- Interviews with two poets and educators
- Links to original poems
- Link to archive about history of Guåhan/Guam
- Book recommendations
- Short animated film
Resources about Asian American and Pacific Islander Voices in Literature
Click on any title to visit the page
A Learning Together feature for teachers about the importance of selecting diverse books for the classroom. This page includes:
- Interviews with two scholars
- Links to book titles and resources about the importance of representation in literature
Website featuring book titles for all ages. This page includes:
- Book reviews
- Author interviews
A graphic diary of the early pandemic by artist Nguyên Khôi Nguyễn. This resource includes a viewable sketchbook diary.
A series of mini comics from nine artists adapting exhibition texts from I Want the Wide American Earth. This resource includes a 15-page viewable e-comic.
