Teacher Packet
Lesson
Jade Snow Wong: Drawing Together Her Many Influences
Lesson: Students will 1) become familiar with Wong’s artistic style and recognize how an artist can have many influences and sources of inspiration; 2) use compare-contrast skills in discussing artwork from different cultural contexts; and 3) practice online research skills, presentation skills, and working in groups.
Lesson
Jade Snow Wong’s Writing: Shaping Her Story
Lesson: Wong’s memoirs—Fifth Chinese Daughter (1950) and No Chinese Stranger (1975)—offer students many opportunities to examine issues related to Asian American identity, history, art, and storytelling. Depending on how much time you have, you can assign one or both books or specific passages; no matter the length of the reading, Wong’s stories and reflections lend themselves to provocative discussions.
Lesson
Jade Snow Wong: Crafting a Chinese American Identity
Lesson: Watch and discuss the film Jade Snow Wong to understand the cultural conflicts experienced by Chinese American women during the 1930s-40s and how similar tensions still exist today.
Lesson
Jade Snow Wong: Breaking the Mold
Lesson: Students will 1) understand how Wong was viewed by her community as a rebel in her choice of career and in her artistic style; 2) practice using compare/contrast skills to identify the hallmarks of art from the Qing and Song dynasties, to understand how Wong’s work was initially judged; and 3) hone discussion skills through the use of Project Zero’s Artful Thinking Routines.
Lesson
Kay Sekimachi and Family Traditions
Lesson: Students will take inspiration from Sekimachi and write a short essay on the cultures, celebrations, and traditions that represent them. They will then create a poster, slideshow, or video that illustrate your essay.
Lesson
Kay Sekimachi: Oral History
Lesson: Interview a grandparent, parent, guardian, or community member about their childhood, immigration story, family traditions or celebrations.
Activity
Obata-Inspired Poetry
Students will practice close looking and writing skills through crafting poems inspired by Chiura Obata’s natural landscapes.
Activity
Obata-Inspired Landscape Art
Teacher Packet