Communities in Virginia
Session 5: Asian Culture

Materials

• World map
• Books related to Asian culture in America
• Chopsticks
• Paper for origami folding
• Books related to origami

Instructional Activities

1. Review the list of ethnic groups. Use the world map to locate the continent of Asia. Review what countries are considered part of Asia.
   
   
2. Make a list of two to three countries located in Asia (e.g., China, Japan, Korea). Explain that each country has its own language. When people from these countries move to Virginia, they usually do not forget their own language unless they are very young when they move.
   
   
3. Read a book to students related to the Asian culture. Discuss the characters in the book. As a class, construct a Venn diagram for the following questions: How are Asians like people of other cultures in Virginia? How are they different? (Have students consider factors such as language, clothing, religion, holidays, types of food, eating utensils.)
   
   
4. Invite a guest speaker to share information with students about the Asian culture.
   
   
5. If possible, obtain a set of chopsticks for each student. Allow students an opportunity to practice picking up objects with their chopsticks (crayons, etc.), or provide a small serving of rice for each student to use with his/her chopsticks.
   
   
6. Introduce the Japanese art of origami — paper folding. Allow students to choose a simple paper-folding project to construct.