image/svg+xml

Grades TK-2 Resources

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2026

Please see the resources below.

 

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Full Lessons

Intro to AAPI Month Lesson Elementary Students
The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh Wonders Integration ( Grades TK-2)
Bilal Cooks Dal Grades K-2
Suki’s Kimono Grades K-2
Yayoi Kusama Art Grades 2-5

Texts

Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas by Natasha Yim Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas by Natasha Yim (Chinese / Lunar New Year Book) - In this Chinese American retelling of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," a careless Goldy Luck wreaks havoc on the home of a family of panda bears. She eats up the littlest panda’s rice porridge, breaks his rocking chair, and rumples all the blankets on his futon. When Goldy takes responsibility for her actions, she makes a new friend (and a whole plate of turnip cakes!) just in time for Chinese New Year.
Amah Faraway by Margaret Chiu Greanias This short, colorful picture book is perfect either as a family bedtime story at home, or for story time at school, in particular during Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, which takes place every May in the United States. With soft watercolor illustrations and a central character who has a problem common to diasporic families, this fun and educational children’s story book about the challenges and rewards of trying new things and connecting with faraway family, is excellent for students in kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and third grade.
A Morning with Grandpa, by Sylvia Liu Mei Mei's grandpa is practicing tai chi in the garden, and Mei Mei is eager to join in. As Gong Gong tries to teach her the slow, graceful movements, Mei Mei enthusiastically does them with her own flair. Then Mei Mei takes a turn, trying to teach Gong Gong the yoga she learned in school. Will Gong Gong be able to master the stretchy, bendy poses? Winner of Lee & Low s New Voices Award, A Morning with Grandpa celebrates, with lively spirit and humor, the special bond between grandparent and grandchild and the joy of learning new things together. Readers of all ages will want to try out some tai chi and yoga too!
Priya Dreams of Marigolds and Masala by Meenal Patel Multicultural Preschool Read Aloud Story with Ms. Gisa! Priya Dreams of Marigolds and Masala us written and illustrated by Meenal Patel. Priya's family is from India, but she lives in the United States. This story highlights the special relationship between a grandma and a grandchild. Priya and her grandmother, Babi Ba, make their heritage live on through their daily traditions of food, clothes and marigolds. Embrace the things that make you and your family unique and amazing!
Bracelet's for Bina's Brothers by Rajani LaRocca For the Hindu holiday of Raksha Bandhan, Bina is determined to make beaded bracelets for her brothers all by herself. She finds out which colors her brothers like and dislike and sets to work. Working with her every-other-one beading pattern causes Bina to discover something new about patterns--and her brothers.
My Paati’s Saris Read Aloud for Elementary Students
Suki's Kimono Written by Chieri Uegaki Illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch Despite what's popular, or cool, Suki adamantly decides to wear her beautiful blue Kimono on the first day of 1st grade. Not everyone is accepting or even nice about her choice, but Suki shows them all just how cool embracing your authentic self can be!
Island Toe Written by Christin Lozano Illustrated by Mariko Merritt Island Toes takes readers around the islands, where shoes are optional and toes have the freedom to explore.
The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh Written by Supriya Kelkar Illustrated by Alea Marley Harpreet wears a different colour for every mood, carefully matching each outfit to his patka, a type of turban often worn by Sikh boys.
Ohana Means Family Written by Ilima Loomis Illustrated by Kenard Pak A story about a family, or 'ohana, that is preparing for a traditional luau celebration with a poetic text in the style of The House That Jack Built
The Sky of Afghanistan Written by Ana Eulate Illustrated by Sonja Wimmer In a country ravaged by war, a girl begins to soar, far away from hatred and sadness. She invites us to dream with her so that in her country, Afghanistan, peace may reign forever.

Videos

What These Asian American Families Love About Their Culture (6:34) Families of different Asian heritage explore and celebrate their unique food, traditions, and cultures.
Meet Sesame Street's New Rohingya Puppets (1:17) Sesame Street International Social Impact video about, Noor and Aziz, 6-year-old Rohingya Muppets who live in a refugee camp in Bangladesh. As part of Sesame Workshop’s Play to Learn humanitarian program, Noor and Aziz are featured in playful learning content to support children and families affected by the Rohingya refugee crisis.
Polynesian Culture (2:57) Overview of the fourth part of a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic series on the South Pacific that explores what defines a Pacific Islander
All About Asia for Kids (8:34) A video that teaches facts about the continent of Asia

Additional Resources

Britannica Kids - Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - Elementary Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month takes place in the United States every May. The month celebrates the cultures and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). The term AAPI includes people from all Asian countries and the areas of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia in Oceania. Many educators use AAPI Heritage Month as a time to teach their students about the contributions Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made to the United States and the world. To find out more about the contributions of AAPI individuals, see Asian Americans at a glance.
Lesson Plan Min Jee's Lunch Lesson plan (with text and read-aloud video) to help students explore what happens when people make assumptions about Asians
Read Aloud: Eyes that Speak to the Stars (4:33) Read aloud by the author about a young boy’s journey to understanding the strength and story that come from the shape of his eyes and how his eyes share power and his family’s heritage. Link also includes Q&A with author where she expands on cultural references.
Book: Eyes that Kiss in the Corners (4:23) This set of lesson plans explores the life and art of Leo Valledor from the Asian Art Museum.
Teacher's Guide: Eyes that Speak to the Stars & Eyes that Kiss in the Corners Discussion questions and extension activities for each text, along with a note about each story from the author

Grade Level Standards