CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
Audience
This guide is designed for use by teachers, librarians, group leaders, and others who would like to introduce students and other audiences to various aspects of the Korean American experience.
The target student group for the three lesson plans is middle school students, from grades 6-8. However, each of the three lessons can be modified for both younger and older audiences.
Summary
The overall curriculum is divided into three separate lessons. The three lessons can be presented together as a full teaching unit, or each can be used individually as a quick introduction. The three lessons highlight the most visible elements of the Korean American experience present in contemporary American society.
Unit 1: The guide begins with a brief history of Korean Americans over the last century, as 2003 was the centennial celebration of the first significant wave of Korean immigration to the United States.
Unit 2: The curriculum continues with an introduction to literature by writers of Korean descent for a broad range of audiences. With the outstanding success of such writers as Linda Sue Park who won the Newbery Medal (the most prestigious of children’s book awards) in 2002 and bestselling author Chang-rae Lee, Korean American writers are quickly gaining major recognition for their literary accomplishments.
Unit 3: The final unit highlights the experience of Korean American adoptees. Following the Korean War, Korean children arrived in the United States in record numbers to become a part of waiting American families. While the majority of today’s transracial adoptions originate in China and Russia, Korean adoptees still make up a substantial portion of the transracially adopted community throughout the country. Their experience, their participation, and their contributions play a significant role within the broader Asian Pacific American community.
A resources summary is also available, which includes suggested print, video, and web materials available for further information and more in-depth research. In addition, a timeline of Asian Pacific American history is included to offer a larger context of the Korean American experience within the more encompassing Asian Pacific American community.
