Coming to America
Grades 6-8
Multiple class periods
Educational materials that support teaching the history of Hmong immigration in comparison and context of global conflicts and regional displacement.
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Objectives
Enduring Understanding
Hmong immigration to the United States reflects the impact of global conflict, resilience in the face of displacement, and the challenges of cultural adaptation, while also illustrating the contributions of immigrant communities in American society.
Essential Questions
- How does studying immigration foster empathy, respect, and a deeper appreciation for the diverse experiences of immigrant communities in the United States?
- What are some challenges to maintaining cultural identity while integrating into a new society?
- What are some ongoing contributions immigrants make to American social, political, and cultural life?
- How does where and how we live affect who we are as people? As a community?
Students will:
- Engage with primary sources such as oral histories.
- Compare and contrast the immigration experiences of three groups of people.
Activity
In these two lessons students will analyze written and oral histories to compare and contrast the immigration experiences of the Hmong, Vietnamese, and Cambodian people.
Download ActivitiesCredit: These lesson materials were created by Mang Thao.
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Last Updated: April 10, 2026
