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Kokoro: The Story of Sacramento's Lost Japantown is based on a 2017 exhibition at the California Museum. The collection of photos explores a now-vanished and mostly forgotten neighborhood, which was once the fourth-largest Japantown in the nation. Some of the photographs featured allow you to zoom in and explore. The photographs start in the 1900s with Early Japan and span to forced removal between 1942-1945, post-war Japantown from 1945-1959, and redevelopment from 1955-1965. The site ends with Japanese notables.

tag(s): japan (61), japanese (54), photography (131)

Google Arts and Culture features Indomitable: The Tommy Kono Story. The story of Tommy Kono is told through photographs that share information about his early life, Tule Lake Judo Club, early training, Buddhist Church of Sacramento, Olympic Gold, his legacy, and more. Some of the photographs allow you to zoom in further.

tag(s): cultures (211), japanese (54), religions (112), sports (84)

Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center: We are not a Stereotype shares a video series for educators. Video topics include: Migration, Occupation, Racial and Gender Identities, Cross-Community Building, and How to Support Student Learning on these topics. In addition, links to the Smithsonian Learning Lab will support the issues in the series. Videos range in length from forty minutes to an hour and forty minutes. Next to each video is a breakdown, speakers, video length, and topics/themes.

tag(s): asia (125), cultures (211)

Check out these resources, including the Asian Americans K-12 Education Curriculum, Asian Americans in the People's History of the United States, Asian American booklist, Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Advising for Multilingual Learners, We are not a stereotype, the history of tensions--and solidarity--between Black and Asian American communities, explained, and more.

tag(s): asia (125), cultures (211)

A Different Asian American Timeline covers almost 600 years of history, from the early Atlantic slave trade of the 15th century to the rise of the modern nation states, and features events that affected people across racial boundaries. This website focuses not on the events related to people who arrived in the United States from Asia, but on why Asians arrived in America and their relationship to the global conditions affecting people across racial and national boundaries. The timeline is broken into the following sections: 1441-1860, 1861-1898, 1989-1939, 1939-1980, and 1980- present. The site also includes an Introduction, America Empire v. Democracy, and how to use the timeline.

tag(s): timelines (57)

The Jewish American Heritage Month website is a valuable resource for educators looking to integrate Jewish American history and culture into their curriculum. It provides access to primary sources, lesson plans, videos, and exhibits from institutions like the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the Smithsonian. Teachers can use these materials to explore Jewish contributions to American society, discuss historical events, and engage students in activities that promote cultural understanding. The site also includes virtual exhibits and suggested readings, making it a versatile tool for classroom learning.

tag(s): cultures (211), jews (50), religions (112)

Rise and Fall of the Mali Empire is a seven-minute YouTube video. The video highlights the history, leadership, accomplishments, and decline of the Mali Empire. While watching the video, a sketch artist sketches pictures or words about the Mali Empire.
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tag(s): africa (170), cultures (211)

The MexicoLore website's "Ancient Maya Music" section provides valuable resources for teachers exploring the role of music in Maya civilization. It covers the types of instruments used, their cultural and religious significance, and how music was integrated into ceremonies and daily life. The content is well-researched and includes images, expert insights, and interactive elements to engage students. This resource is ideal for supplementing lessons on the Maya, helping students connect with their traditions through the universal language of music.

tag(s): mayans (32), mexico (46), musical instruments (54)

The Discover Peru website's page on Andean and Inca music offers an accessible introduction to the musical traditions of the Inca civilization. It explains that the Inca primarily utilized wind and percussion instruments, such as panpipes (zamponas), flutes (quenas), and drums (tinya and wankara), in their music. These instruments played a significant role in various aspects of Inca society, including religious ceremonies, agricultural festivals, and daily life. The site also notes that string instruments were introduced later by the Spanish.
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tag(s): musical instruments (54), south america (77)

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian website features "Children of the Sun," a creation story from the Inca tradition. This illustrated, child-friendly resource shares how the Inca believed the first people were sent by the sun god to bring order and knowledge to the world. Presented as part of the "Inka Road" exhibit, the story emphasizes cultural values such as leadership, unity, and connection to nature.

tag(s): south america (77), stories and storytelling (61)

Share the podcast episode "The Inca Empire: Everything You Wanted To Know." This one-hour program, available on Apple Podcasts, explores everyday life in the Inca civilization. It answers questions such as what daily routines looked like, how the Inca used knotted cords (quipu) to count and record information, and why stones held deep spiritual significance in their culture.

tag(s): podcasts (114), south america (77)

Explore the Inca civilization's sophisticated use of quipu--a system of knotted cords--for recording information. These cords, made from cotton or camelid fiber, utilized a base-ten system to represent numbers, effectively functioning as a three-dimensional, tactile spreadsheet. The article highlights how quipu served as a powerful administrative tool, enabling the Incas to manage their vast empire without a written language.
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tag(s): communication (130), south america (77)

The Holocaust Museum Houston's Educators page provides a comprehensive collection of resources tailored for teachers at both elementary and secondary levels. It offers specialized lesson plans, classroom activities, and professional development opportunities to enhance Holocaust education. These materials are designed to support educators in delivering accurate and engaging content about the Holocaust, fostering critical thinking and empathy among students. Additionally, the museum provides contact information and avenues for further assistance, ensuring educators can access the support they need. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): critical thinking (136), ebooks (46), empathy (36), holocaust (43), immigrants (44), immigration (79), jews (50), professional development (391), religions (112)

PBS's Timbuktu | Religion & Ethics Newsweekly is a six-minute video featuring what appears to be an ancient manuscript found in Timbuktu. It highlights the city's history and the Islamic religion. Share the video via Google Classroom or from the provided link. Teachers can also build a lesson with the video. The video aligns with the New York State Core Curriculum.

tag(s): africa (170), religions (112)

The PBS lesson plan "Who Are You?" is designed for grades 8-10 and focuses on exploring individual identity and its intersection with broader historical events. Aligned with history, social studies, humanities, and language arts subjects, the lesson encourages students to reflect on their identities and understand how various factors shape them. Through activities like journal entries and class discussions, students examine the complexities of identity formation and its relevance in historical contexts.

tag(s): cultures (211), identity (34), immigrants (44), immigration (79), jews (50), religions (112)

The PBS article "Jews & The Arts: 10 Innovators" introduces students to ten influential Jewish-American artists who have significantly impacted various creative fields. The resource provides brief biographies of figures such as lyricist E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, feminist artist Judy Chicago, and graphic designer Milton Glaser, highlighting their contributions to music, visual arts, and design. This compilation serves as a valuable tool for educators aiming to explore Jewish Americans' diverse cultural and artistic contributions in their curriculum.

tag(s): artists (88), composers (18), cultures (211), famous people (25), immigrants (44), jews (50), religions (112)

Inca Empire for Kids: Myths, Legends, and Stories highlights how studying myths, legends, and stories tells the story of the civilization. Featured are links to the Incan creation myth video, the llama legend, the myth of Mano Capac, the myth of the Rod of Gold, and more.
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tag(s): myths and legends (41)

Ghosts of Machu Picchu is a free site that explores careers related to Machu Picchu. The site offers a video on the Ghost of Machu Picchu, an interview on the Incas' ice mummies, a profile of a climate expert, and a lesson on ice mummies. The lesson is divided into grades 5-8 and 9-12, with an extension activity on falling on the leaning tower.

tag(s): climate (85), south america (77)

This blog post highlights how the Inca Empire used advanced standards and technology, like the khipu for record-keeping and a vast road network, to manage their civilization. It shows how measurement, organization, and engineering helped the Incas thrive without a written language. This resource is great for middle and high school lessons on Indigenous innovation and infrastructure.

tag(s): south america (77)

Peru's Machu Picchu site offers a virtual tour of Museo de Sitio and a link to Machu Picchu viewed through the eyes of Fernando Astete. The site can be translated into Spanish and French.

tag(s): cultures (211), south america (77)