May 03, 2021
Welcome to this Teaching Toolkit for Asian Heritage Month! It is designed to help you educators and parents teach the kids in your life about the subject. Explore on-theme teaching tools, podcasts, cultures, interviews, events and even some booklists! It’s important to remember that Asian culture is vast and very diverse, and those that were not mentioned in this toolkit are still important and cherished. Have fun, and happy Asian Heritage Month!
Teaching Tools
The Ottawa Public Library has many online resources for kids! All offer great tools to teach children with such as books, songs, videos and more. Try searching words like “Asia” in these resources!
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has compiled a list of on-theme lesson plans for kids of all ages. The government of Canada has posters (including colourable posters) and other information on the topic.
Podcasts
Try new things this Asian Heritage Month! You can learn some Mandarin Chinese or Japanese with these bilingual storytime podcasts.
It’s important for us adults to provide high quality information and conversations with the kids in our lives about serious topics. Here is a resource that will help adults talk to children about Anti-Asian racism. This podcast episode by The Ten News is for children, and teaches them about allyship in the wake of surging Asian hate.
Culture: art, songs and dance
Welcome to Asian culture— or at least some of it! In this section of the toolkit, everyone can increase knowledge, appreciation and respect for Asian culture. Before taking the tour of this ever-famous culture, though, the kids may want to learn about the continent itself. Watch this video about the largest continent in the world… yes, Asia!
Next up, follow a wonderful tutorial on how to make kites (produced by OPL!). Kids of all ages will love this lantern craft, too.
Now let’s get active! Practice these dances from many different Asian cultures. … A little hungry after all that movement? These kids give the best tour possible of their favourite Asian foods.
Interviews
Looking for more inspiration? Ottawa’s (and Korea’s) very own Sandra Oh can help you out with that. Or listen to these kiddos' passion for their diverse Asian cultures. And don’t miss out on this interview with Chinese-Canadian storyteller and artist Bernice Hune.
Events
The Ottawa Public Library is hosting a super fun family event for Asian Heritage Month… Bollywood dance class!!! Learn the basic movements of popular Indian dances from Bollywood musical films. For more programs check out the Asian Heritage Month 2021 blog.
Booklists
You can click the images or browse below to look through OPL’s booklists. Created for kids wishing to celebrate this special month with some reading… We hope you enjoy Asian Heritage Month and join us in our celebrations!
