18 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Activities for Students

1. Explore Asian Pacific artwork: Encourage students to study various styles of Asian and Pacific Islander artwork and create their own pieces inspired by what they learn.

2. Organize a cultural fair: Have students set up booths where they can present information about the culture, traditions, and history of different Asian Pacific countries and regions.

3. Host a traditional tea ceremony: Teach students about the importance of tea ceremonies in Asian cultures and allow them to take part in one.

4. Take a virtual field trip: Utilize online resources and virtual reality experiences to take students on a geographical exploration of Asia and the Pacific Islands.

5. Participate in traditional dances: Learn about various traditional dances from Asian Pacific cultures, such as the Hula from Hawaii or Thai classical dance, and have students practice performing these dances.

6. Learn calligraphy: Teach students about calligraphy from different countries, such as China, Japan, and Korea, and provide them an opportunity to practice it themselves.

7. Cook traditional dishes: Have students research traditional recipes from Asia and the Pacific Islands and prepare dishes to share with the class.

8. Try origami: Introduce students to the art of paper folding through origami and let them create their own unique pieces.

9. Create a school-wide trivia competition: Organize an event where students compete against each other in answering trivia questions about Asian Pacific history, geography, culture, and more.

10. Engage with community leaders: Invite local community leaders of Asian Pacific descent to speak with students about their experiences growing up in a multicultural society.

11. Study influential figures: Introduce students to important historical figures from Asia and the Pacific Islands by drawing inspiration from their biographies or speeches.

12. Write reflective essays or narratives: Encourage students to explore the impact that Asian Pacific cultures have on their own identity through creative writing assignments.

13. Learn about traditional storytelling: Explore the rich tradition of storytelling from Asian Pacific cultures, and encourage students to share their own unique stories.

14. Create a multimedia project: Have students collaborate on projects that showcase the history, culture, and influences of Asia and the Pacific Islands through various mediums like videos, podcasts, or websites.

15. Language lessons: Introduce students to the basics of a language spoken in an Asian or Pacific Islander country and practice simple phrases together as a class.

16. Celebrate festivals and holidays: Teach students about traditional celebrations from Asia and the Pacific Islands, such as Diwali or Lunar New Year, and develop classroom activities around these festivities.

17. Explore music: Discover musical instruments and styles from different Asian Pacific cultures, like gamelan music from Indonesia or taiko drumming from Japan, and listen to performances or try playing them.

18. Host a film screening: Show movies or documentaries about Asian Pacific history, culture, or stories to help broaden students’ perspectives on this diverse region.