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Teaching Guide :

Teaching Guide Names and Cultural Identity

  • Grade Level K-2nd Grade
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Introduction

This collection of materials focuses on the importance of names in Asian American culture and identity. Compiled by Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Chicago, it pulls together a series of books, a video on Chinese names, a lesson plan from Learning for Justice, and an article for teacher background and knowledge to help teach this content.

BOOKS:
Always Anjali by Sheetal Sheth: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/721351/always-anjali-by-sheetal-sheth-illustrated-by-jessica-blank/
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes: https://kevinhenkes.com/mouse-books/chrysanthemum-mouse/
I am Enough by Grace Byers: https://harperstacks.com/products/i-am-enough-3
Name Jar by Yangsook Choi: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/27340/the-name-jar-by-yangsook-choi-illustrated-by-the-author/
Thao: A Picture Book by Thao Lam: https://shop.owlkids.com/products/thao
Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow: https://www.theinnovationpress.com/your-name-is-a-song

VIDEOS:
Chinese Names & Family History: https://youtu.be/Cdsk4KHq2RI
Thao Lam Author Interview: https://youtu.be/PAYcT0yj0wY

LESSON:
https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/whats-in-a-name

TEACHER BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE:
Cultural Identity and Names in the Classroom (AFT):
https://sharemylesson.com/blog/cultural-identity-and-names-classroom

Essential Questions

  • Why are names important?

  • What does your name mean to you?

  • What is culture?

  • How might a name connect to a culture?

  • What does it mean to be an insider or an outsider?