Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Activities

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! Established in 1991, this celebratory event has brought both honor and recognition to the communities who belong to this group, which includes more than 75 countries in Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. In addition, we can’t forget Hawaii, a tropical state in the Pacific Ocean. On this page, you’ll find our printable Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Activities, which are great for celebrating this month in the classroom!

In classrooms across the country, teachers and students are learning about the diverse makeup of different cultures in the AAPI community. There is much to see and enjoy: the AAPI community has many unique celebrations, cuisines, and cultural traditions.

As you plan your Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month lesson plans and activities, integrate our ready-to-use and ready-to-print resources, aligned to the Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Learning Standards.

We have an assortment of reading comprehension passages about figures from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, including 21st century inventors and entertainers. Looking to dig into tradition? We have an excellent reading about cuisine and celebratory events like Songkran and Holi. For each reading, learners have an opportunity to connect with culture and share their reflections on the text.

For your youngest elementary school learners, be sure to enjoy our Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month pre-made presentations and activities. Your lesson planning will be a breeze and students will be motivated to participate in some hands-on, colorful fun.

First, use our presentations on Chinese fans, tikis, leis, and origami to help students understand the cultural traditions associated with each. Many of these traditions span the AAPI community, while others are most distinct to certain groups and regions. This is a wonderful way to celebrate diversity!

Each presentation has a coordinating AAPI Heritage Month activity. Activities range in challenge. Learners can create and fold personalized Chinese fans and fold patterned paper to make an origami fox. Alternatively, students may create and dedicate leis to celebrate people in their lives or design tikis to give the classroom a tropical and vibrant look. Choose one or all four Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month activities to help your students learn and celebrate.

These Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month lesson plan ideas offer student choice and promote reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. May is a great time to celebrate the rich and vibrant culture of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community!

CCSS Standard
L.1, R.1, R.3, SL.1, W.1, W.2

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Reading Activities

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Presentations and Activities