Kansas Kaleidoscope - February/March 2004
Real People. Real Stories.
A fun magazine for kids!
Asian Americans in Kansas
- Teacher Supplement for this issue
-
Immigrants from Asia
Over the course of Kansas history, most immigrants have come here from European countries. Recently more and more immigrants are of Asian heritage.
For Parents and Teachers:
In this issue, students will learn reasons why Asians came to Kansas and the customs, with Asian origins, that have a presence in Kansas today. This topic addresses the Kansas curricular standards for fourth grade social studies that require students to compare reasons that brought settlers to Kansas and to understand the significance of holidays and events important in Kansas' history.
Visit History
In 1917 Sallie Casey Thayer offered her impressive art collection to the University of Kansas. This Kansas City native hoped by doing so it would encourage students to study the fine arts. Her collection became the Spencer Museum of Art, online at www.ku.edu/~sma/.
Asia: A Diverse Continent
Asia is a land of many nations and cultures. Geographically, it is the largest of the seven continents.
The Hmong
The Hmong [pronounced Mong] began arriving in the United States as a result of the Vietnam War. They came as refugees from the mountains of southern China and Southeast Asia.
Asians in America
The first recorded settlement of Asians in America was in 1763. Prisoners from the Philippines aboard Spanish ships escaped in New Orleans.
Keeping Cultures Alive
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Since 1990, this month is set aside to recognize the many contributions of people from Asia.
Coming to Kansas
In the most recent census (in 2000), there were more than 46,000 Asian Americans living in Kansas. People moved from the Philippines, China, India, Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand to live in the "Wheat State."
Adopted Homeland
Mal-Soon Sauerman-a Topeka civil engineer, teacher and mother-was born in 1969 in Seoul, Korea. Later Mal-Soon was adopted by an American couple.
By the Light of the Moon
Calendars are a way of organizing time. They are often based on astronomical events relating to the Sun and Moon. Today, there are more than 40 types of calendars used in the world.
Happy Leap Year!
The Gregorian calendar is made up of common years [365 days] and leap years [366 days]. In a leap year, February has 29 days instead of 28!
Happy New Year!
Lunar New Year is celebrated on the first day of the lunar year. But wait! It is NOT January 1! Asian countries still use the lunar calendar to celebrate special holidays.
Time for Tet
Celebrating Tet, or Vietnamese New Year, is a special time for siblings Levita Yen Bui and Jon Duy Bui. They were born in Kansas to Vietnamese parents.
A is for Agriculture!
What two words beginning with "A" are important to the Kansas economy? You are right if you guessed AGRICULTURE and ASIA!
Taekwondo [pronounced: Ti' kwan do]
Taekwondo is a sport that came to the United States from Korea. The roots of Taekwondo date back thousands of years to other Asian martial arts.
Asian "Sisters"
Thanks to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, many cities in Kansas and the nation have "sisters" thousands of miles away! After World War II, the United States wanted to lessen the chance of future world conflicts.
In This Issue:
- Timeline
- Kaleidoscope Challenge
- History Lab: Woven Traditions
- Sound It Out in Korean!
- Chinese Numbers
- Visit History
- Book Nook
- Bee a Winner!
-
