The museum is closed Thurs, Jan. 1, for New Year’s Day. Open regular hours all other days this week.

Tickets
Museum Hours
Thu–Mon: 10 AM–5 PM
Tue–Wed: Closed
Location
200 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415.581.3500
Become a Member Plan Your Visit Shop
Tickets
Activity

Asian American Neighborhood Illustrated Map Activity

Share your favorite spots in your city’s Chinatown, Japantown, Koreatown, Manilatown, Little Saigon, or Little Delhi. Some Asian American communities might not have names like these, but they can be mapped just the same to show what makes them special.

Illustrated map of Oakland Chinatown.
View Gallery
2 Photos
Here are two sample maps. What do these versions of Oakland’s Chinatown and Seattle’s Chinatown have in common? How are they different? 
1
2
Chinatown in Oakland, CA
Chinatown in Seattle, WA
Illustrated map of Oakland Chinatown.
Hand drawn personal map of Seattle's Chinatown.
Chinatown in Oakland, CA
Chinatown in Seattle, WA

Directions

  1. Read through the New York Times, “How to Make an Illustrated Map in 8 Steps” to learn the overall procedure for this activity.
  2. Choose the neighborhood you want to celebrate and brainstorm your favorite spots to visit in that neighborhood.
  3. Think of your favorite memories or pastimes for each personal landmark and how they might be represented by icons.
  4. On a piece of paper, plot out your favorite spots relative to each other. If you can remember street names, try to integrate them into your layout.
  5. Draw and color in the icons you chose for each personal landmark. Then share your map! 
Need inspiration? Check out this Virtual Walk through New York’s Chinatown.

Related Resources

Activity

Create an Abstract Dreamscape

In this activity, you will create an art piece inspired by the work of Bernice Bing. 

GRADE LEVEL: Early Elementary School (K-3), Elementary School (4-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond
https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/12/MEDIA-65680-600x450.jpg 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/12/MEDIA-65680-1200x900.jpg 2x

Activity

Calligraphic Creations

In this activity, you will explore Bernice Bing’s use of calligraphy in her paintings and then create your own!

GRADE LEVEL: Elementary School (4-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond
https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/12/MEDIA-66196-600x450.jpg 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/12/MEDIA-66196-1200x900.jpg 2x

Mask Musings

GRADE LEVEL: Elementary School (4-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond

Activity

Design Your Personal Cloak

GRADE LEVEL: Early Elementary School (K-3), Elementary School (4-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond

Activity

Pen a Pantoum

Learn about the form of poetry called the pantoum and then write one of your own!

GRADE LEVEL: Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond

Background Information

Slow Down Fast Fashion

Tips and resources to inspire sustainable and slow fashion consumption.

GRADE LEVEL: Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond
https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/12/Garment_factory_in_Bangladesh_Women_working-600x450.jpeg 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/12/Garment_factory_in_Bangladesh_Women_working-1200x900.jpeg 2x

Activity

Reflection: I was, I am, I will be

How would you answer Chanel Miller’s “I was, I am, I will be” prompt? Would your answers look like Miller’s, or would they look different?

GRADE LEVEL: High School (9-12), College and Beyond
https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/Chanel_Miller_Gallery-600x450.jpg 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/Chanel_Miller_Gallery-1200x900.jpg 2x

Activity

Reflection: Inside/Outside

Visible from Hyde Street outside the Asian Art Museum are Chanel Miller’s I was, I am, I will be, Jas Charanjiva’s Don’t Mess With Me, and Jenifer K Wofford’s Pattern Recognition.

GRADE LEVEL: Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond
https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/artists-600x450.jpg 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/artists-1200x900.jpg 2x