Tickets
Museum Hours
Thurs: 1 PM–8 PM
Fri–Mon: 10 AM–5 PM
Tue–Wed: Closed
Cafe Hours
Fri-Mon: 10 AM—4:30 PM
Thurs: 1—7:30 PM
Location
200 Larkin St.
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

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

Activity

Mapping Your Special Space

Personal Space (2001), a layered, dreamlike painting by Kolkata-based artist Jayashree Chakravarty, is an imaginary map built up from painted strips of paper. In this activity, create your own map based on your special place.

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/6/2021/07/Jayashree_Chakravarty_01-600x450.jpg 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/07/Jayashree_Chakravarty_01-1200x900.jpg 2x

Activity

Elephant Explorers

In the spring of 2020, a herd of wild Asian elephants started migrating north from Southwest China. As of June 2021, the elephants have traveled 500 kilometers, navigating through rural areas and cityscapes toward an unknown destination. Scientists believe this unusual migration was spurred by deforestation, urbanization, and habitat loss.

GRADE LEVEL: Early Elementary School (K-3), Elementary School (4-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)
https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/07/Elephant-5-600x450.jpg 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/07/Elephant-5-1200x900.jpg 2x

Teacher Packet

Pattern Recognition: Activity Packet

In this packet, you will engage with Wofford’s mural, learn about different Asian cultures and identities, and celebrate Asian American artists from the San Francisco Bay Area. With what you’ve learned and researched, you will then create your own patterns in a digital collage art project. 

GRADE LEVEL: Elementary School (4-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond
Download PDF (Free)
https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/05/Pattern_Recognition_square-crop_v2-600x450.jpg 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/05/Pattern_Recognition_square-crop_v2.jpg 2x

Activity

Make Your Own Cardboard Loom

In this activity, create your own weaving loom with cardboard and then weave your own textile project. As you construct your loom and learn the labor-intensive process of weaving, you might begin to wonder how Sekimachi was able to create her famous three-dimensional structures.

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

Activity

Lunar New Year Red Envelopes

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