AI Lesson Plan Exploring Asian American History and Coalitions with Black Americans

Non-Exemplar

This lesson was created by Magic School AI. We used the platform to generate a lesson plan focused on the coalitions between Asian American and Black American communities. Throughout the document, you will find our suggested improvements in parentheses with bold text.

We encourage you to review these suggestions as you consider how to strengthen AI-generated content for your classroom. Additionally, you can use the Online Lesson Checklist to help evaluate this and other online lessons for instructional quality and classroom readiness.

Instructions

Lesson Plan: Exploring Asian American History and Coalitions with Black Americans
Grade Level: 9-12
Subject: Social Studies/History (How is this vetted? What are the sources?)
Duration: two class periods of 90 minutes each (The timing is skewed and cannot likely occur within two 90-minute periods.)

Objectives:

• Students will understand key events and figures in Asian American history.
• Students will explore the historical and contemporary coalitions between Asian Americans and Black Americans (Focuses on solidarity but does not include tensions and realities such as the model minority myth. Coalitions require working through biases. Just because you are a person of color does not mean you do not have biases.)
• Students will analyze the impact of these coalitions on civil rights movements.

Materials Needed:

• Projector and screen
• Whiteboard and markers
• Handouts with key readings such as articles and excerpts
• Access to online resources for research
• Paper and writing utensils

Standards:

• Understanding the contributions of diverse groups to American history
• Analyzing historical events and their impact on social justice movements (Not inquiry based, draws mostly from men, East Asian American-focused. Why aren't we talking about Delgado and the labor movement? Where are the Black people?)

Day 1: Introduction to Asian American History

1. Introduction (15 minutes)
(Covering these major events in Asian American/Pacific Islander history would not be thorough in two days. Concerns of rushing through history and missing major moments, does not consider intersectionality and that AAPI individuals are not a monolith.)

• Begin with a brief overview of Asian American history, highlighting key events such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, Japanese internment during World War II and the Vietnam War.
• Discuss the cultural contributions of Asian Americans to the U.S.

2. Group Activity (30 minutes)

• Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a specific event or figure in Asian American history (e.g., civil rights activists like Yuri Kochiyama, the Asian American Movement).
• Each group will create a short presentation covering its topic's significance and impact.

3.) Presentations (30 minutes)

• Groups will present their findings to the class.
• Encourage questions and discussions after each presentation.

4.) Homework Assignment (15 minutes)

• Distribute readings about coalitions between Asian Americans and Black Americans (e.g., the role of Asian Americans in the Black Power movement).
• Students should prepare a one-page reflection on the readings, focusing on how these coalitions were formed and their significance.

Day 2: Coalitions Between Asian Americans and Black Americans

1. Review and Discussion (20 minutes)

• Start with a review of the homework reflections.
• Facilitate a discussion on the readings, encouraging students to share insights and connections made between the two groups.

2. Case Studies (30 minutes)

• Present case studies of specific coalitions, such as the collaboration during the 1982 protests against the murder of Vincent Chin and other instances of solidarity.
• Discuss how these coalitions address systemic racism and promote social justice.

3. Collaborative Project (30 minutes)

• In pairs, students will choose one coalition to research further and create a visual presentation (poster, digital infographic) showcasing their findings, including key figures, events and outcomes.

4. Conclusion and Reflection (10 minutes)

• Each pair will share their visual presentation with the class.
• Conclude with a reflection on the importance of solidarity among marginalized communities in the fight for civil rights.

Assessment:

• Participation in group activities and discussions.
• Quality and depth of the homework reflection.
• Visual presentation demonstrating understanding of the chosen coalition.

This lesson plan aims to foster an understanding of Asian American history while highlighting the importance of inter-community coalitions. Feel free to adjust any parts according to your classroom needs!

Handout 1: Key Events in Asian American History

1. Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): The first significant law restricting immigration to the United States based on nationality. This act prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the country and set a precedent for future immigration laws.
2. Japanese American Internment (1942-45): During World War II, over 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and interned in camps across the U.S. due to wartime hysteria and prejudice.
3. The Asian American Movement (1960s-1970s): A social movement that sought to address racial discrimination issues, cultural identity and political representation. It was influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and aimed to bring awareness to Asian American experiences.
4. Vincent Chin Case (1982): Vincent Chin, a Chinese American, was murdered in Detroit, leading to national outrage. The case highlighted issues of racism and discrimination against Asian Americans and brought together various ethnic communities in solidarity.

Handout 2: Readings on Coalitions Between Asian Americans and Black Americans

1. The Role of Asian Americans in the Civil Rights Movement: Explore how Asian American activists participated in the broader civil rights movement, advocating for equality and justice alongside Black Americans.
2. Solidarity in Struggle: The Black and Asian American Alliance: Examine historical instances where Asian Americans and Black Americans collaborated to combat systemic racism, including protests, community organizing and support for one another's causes.
3. Contemporary Issues and Alliances: Discuss recent events that illustrate ongoing coalitions, such as protests against anti-Asian violence and the shared experiences of racial minorities in the U.S.

Handout 3: Reflection Questions

1. How did the events and figures you studied contribute to the broader narrative of Asian American history?
2. What were some of the challenges faced by Asian Americans during the coalition-building process with Black Americans?
3. In what ways can the historical coalitions between these communities inform current movements for social justice?

Handout 4: Visual Presentation Guidelines

Project Requirements:

• Choose one coalition between Asian Americans and Black Americans to research.
• Your visual presentation should include:
  • A brief overview of the coalition (who, what, when, where)
  • Key figures involved
  • Major events or actions taken by the coalition
  • The impact of this coalition on civil rights and social justice
  • Visual elements (images, graphs, quotes) that enhance the presentation

Presentation Format Options:

• Poster board
• Digital infographic using tools such as Canva or Google Slides
• Other creative formats (check with your teacher for approval)

Presentation Duration:

• Each presentation should last about 5-7 minutes, followed by a Q&A session.

Google AI, 2025
MagicSchool