Act 266 Scope & Sequence
Grades 9-12
Multiple class periods
An in-depth unit on Hmong history, culture, and tradition. In this semester-length study, students engage in a wide variety of research and project based learning to better understand the history, culture, traditions, and contemporary lives of the Hmong people.
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Hmong New Year Celebration
Objectives
Enduring Understanding
The Hmong people have a rich and complex history that spans multiple regions and cultures, from their origins in China to their eventual settlement in Southeast Asia, and later the United States.
Essential Questions
- How do people navigate displacement and resettlement in new countries?
- What are the push and pull factors that resulted in different periods of Hmong migration?
- What challenges and opportunities do immigrants and refugees face in America?
Students will:
- Engage with primary and secondary sources.
- Investigate different cultural perspectives on myths, family and gender roles, and various traditions.
- Expand their understanding of the refugee experience and Hmong people’s agency, leadership, and roles throughout various conflicts.
Activity
This study is made up of five units aligned with Wisconsin Social Studies standards for a suggested total duration of 18 weeks:
- Unit 1: Traditional Cosmology and Culture
- Unit 2: Courtship & Marriage
- Unit 3: Birth & Death
- Unit 4: Vietnam War/Secret War
- Unit 5: Resettlement and Transitions in Culture
Each unit contains suggested formative and summative activities, alongside additional resources for teaching about Hmong history and culture.
Download ActivitiesCredit: The Wisconsin Act 266 Scope and Sequence study was created by Diane Xiong.
WisHistory Education
History matters! The Wisconsin Historical Society provides field trips, learning opportunities, civics education programs, teacher professional development and more.
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Other Act 266 Resources
Learn More
Creating a Story Cloth
Lessons from Hmong Cultural Traditions
In this lesson, students learn the history of Hmong embroidery, the meaning of story cloths in Hmong culture, and create their own version of a story cloth.
Hmong Leaders in Wisconsin
Exploring the Hmong approach to Immigration
In these lessons, students will study the immigration history of the Hmong people and their traditional ways of life to new situations and how they adapted.
Coming to America
The History of Hmong Immigration
In these lessons students will analyze written and oral histories to compare and contrast the immigration experiences of the Hmong, Vietnamese, and Cambodian people.
Primary Sources for Teaching Act 266
AAPI Immigration on Turning Points
Explore Act 266 relevant primary sources from the Turning Points collection.
Act 266 Book List
AAPI Immigration on Turning Points
Book list and reading activities for teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history.
Last Updated: April 10, 2026
