Around the World: Storytime with Michelle Yeoh, Untold Stories through AAPI Women's Poetry, and More

Each week, we'll share a variety of videos, articles, webcasts, resources, and more from around the web — all curated by Asia Society Texas Center staff to reflect the broad interests and goals of our mission. In this digest, learn about resources and partner organizations to help supplement learning for students, families, educators, and adults.

STEM by Numbers

From Learning for Justice, this lesson plan has students look at the make-up of people in STEM careers compared to their participation in the workforce at large. Questions guide students to think about the ways people are disproportionately underrepresented by gender and race/ethnicity and why. This lesson is a multidisciplinary approach using math, reading, social studies, and science to engage with this material and these real issues.

While "STEM by the Numbers" is made for third, fourth, and fifth grade students, much of the material can be used for a general middle school audience. This is critical age- and gender-wise, as studies have shown that girls' interest in STEM drops off at the end of middle school. Teachers of older students can share handouts like PBS NewsHour Extra's "These Are the 7 Things Keeping Women Out of Science Careers" flyer.

Learn more about the "STEM by Numbers" lesson plan »

Storytime with Michelle Yeoh

This lesson plan is built around a video of beloved actress Michelle Yeoh as she reads "Lotus & Feather" by Ji-li Jiange and illustrated by Julie Downing. This offers a fun instance of celebrities encouraging literacy for children online, which we have seen more of since COVID. This has the added bonus of a follow-up lesson plan built in specifically for elementary school students.

This is part of ShareMyLesson.com's continued additions to their "Celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage" page.

Access the storytime lesson plan »

Untold Stories through Poetry

This curriculum offers 10 lessons addressing Asian American and Pacific Islander women's lived experiences through poetry. While two of the plans center around building and peer-revising an essay, the others are angled to help students understand nuances of immigration.

From the start, the plan employs a vocabulary reflection and asks students to reflect on their first thoughts and how these concepts are reflected. The material engages the high school age group with questions such as "Who is the immigrant: Justin Bieber or Selena Gomez?" and encourages thought-provoking conversations about history, language, and civics.

Access the curriculum »

Queen of Hawai'i | Unladylike 2020

Perfect for middle and high school students, this assignment features an activity, video, handout, vocabulary, and discussion questions about Queen Lili'uokalani, the last sovereign monarch of the Hawai'ian Kingdom. As Women's History Month comes to a close, this is a great time to discuss one of the most prominent women in American history. PBS has several videos highlighting Queen Lili'uokalani as well as another lesson plan for older students, "American Aloha: Hula Beyond Hawai'i," which can extend into several class periods. Older students may be familiar with viral TikToks from Native Hawai'ians reteaching culture and history, building upon interest in these lessons.

Access the PBS video »

Business and Policy programs are endowed by Huffington Foundation. We give special thanks to Bank of America, Muffet Blake, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Nancy Pollok Guinee, and United Airlines, Presenting Sponsors of Business and Policy programs; Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Leslie and Brad Bucher, Presenting Sponsors of Exhibitions; Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau, Presenting Sponsors of Performing Arts and Culture; Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsor of Education & Outreach; and Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Presenting Sponsor of the Japan Series. General support of programs and exhibitions is provided by The Brown Foundation, Inc., The Hearst Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment, Inc., the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, McKinsey & Company, Inc., National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, Vinson & Elkins LLP, and Mary Lawrence Porter, as well as Friends of Asia Society.

About Asia Society at Home

We are dedicated to continuing our mission of building cross-cultural understanding and uplifting human connectivity. Using digital tools, we bring you content for all ages and conversations that matter, in order to spark curiosity about Asia and to foster empathy.

About Asia Society Texas Center

With 13 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and West. Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach.