 This May provides many opportunities for educators to recognize Jewish American Heritage and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This newsletter includes classroom resources and local events celebrating the contributions of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Jewish Americans.
The newsletter also includes opportunities for upcoming workshops and information on the Draft 2024 Social Science Standards and survey.
Jewish American Heritage Month
Since 2006, the United States has observed Jewish American Heritage Month each May. The President’s proclamation and recognition is a reminder of the rich contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States and an opportunity to honor and celebrate the lives of those who have greatly impacted and contributed to our communities. With the arrival of the first Jewish immigrants in 1654, the Jewish community struggled for tolerance and religious freedom. As with all heritage and history months, the inclusion of Jewish Americans should not be limited to one month or center only on a single moment of oppression such as instruction about the Holocaust. Rather, it can be a time to educate and combat modern antisemitism in Oregon and across the United States. The resources below encourage teachers and students to explore the diverse history, culture, and achievements of Jewish Americans, as well as ways to address acts of discrimination targeted at Jewish Americans.
Resources:
Professional Learning: The Institute for Curriculum Services is offering professional learning experiences including a one-hour Live Virtual Workshop and two events in partnership with the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History: a virtual webinar with author Dara Horn (People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present) and a session titled “Stories that Shaped a Nation: Jewish Lives in America”. Register here
Curriculum: Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
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A Year in the Life: A 1904 Jewish Immigrant Experience to Oregon (Grades K-5) provides students with a conceptual understanding of Oregon history, Jewish religion and culture, and life as a new immigrant. Request the resources here.
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Oregon Jewish Stories Digital Experience: (Grades 4-12) An interactive digital resource that helps students learn about the rich, unique, and complex history of Oregon Jews. Students will learn about Jewish culture’s fascinating place in the history of Oregon and will consider how Oregon Jewish identities are shaped and have evolved over time.
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Understanding Judaism through Artifacts (Grades 6-12) investigates pictures of Jewish religious artifacts to discover many exciting features of Jewish culture and history. The lesson provides opportunities for comparative work with other world religions as a means of expanding knowledge of Jewish identity beyond topics relating to the Holocaust.
- Jewish American Heritage Month Resource Guide (K-12). A curated guide to books, articles, videos, and lesson plans from other Jewish museums and organizations.
Special Program
- May 26 from 2 - 3 pm We Are Not Strangers Book Talk with Josh Tuning and Ellen Eisenberg, hosted by OJMCHE
We Are Not Strangers is a work of historical fiction and graphic novel written and illustrated by Josh Tuininga. Inspired by a true story, the book follows a Jewish immigrant’s efforts to help his Japanese neighbors while they are incarcerated during World War II.
We Are Not Strangers converges two perspectives into a single portrait of a community’s struggle with race, responsibility, and what it truly means to be an American.
Join OJMCHE for a discussion between the book’s author and illustrator, Josh Tuininga; executive director of JAMO and historian of Japanese-American history, Hanako Wakatsuki-Chong; and Ellen Eisenberg, a consulting scholar for the graphic novel and preeminent historian on Jews in the Pacific West. We Are Not Strangers is available for purchase in the OJMCHE museum shop.
RSVP for the Event
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
The President's proclamation reminds the nation of Asian American Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Observed annually in May to celebrate the contributions that generations of AAPIs have made to American history, society, and culture. This law also recognized the significance of May 7th and May 10th in the history of Asian/Pacific Americans. May 7, 1843 is the date on which the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States while on May 10, 1869 the first transcontinental railroad in the United States was completed with significant contributions from Chinese pioneers.
Resources
Formerly known as the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, the Japanese American Museum of Oregon at Naito Center is a venue for culture and research as well as an invaluable resource for exploring Nikkei experiences and their role in Oregon’s multicultural community.
Resources from the Japanese American Museum of Oregon
Additional Resources
Special Program
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Join OJMCHE for a discussion between the book’s author and illustrator, Josh Tuininga; executive director of JAMO and historian of Japanese-American history, Hanako Wakatsuki-Chong; and Ellen Eisenberg, a consulting scholar for the graphic novel and preeminent historian on Jews in the Pacific West. We Are Not Strangers is available for purchase in the OJMCHE museum shop.
RSVP for the Event
Social Science Standards Feedback Opportunity
The 2024 Draft K-12 Social Science Standards are available for review and comment. These standards include the legislative requirements of ethnic studies, Holocaust and genocide studies, and Civics. The State Board of Education will review the standards on May 16, 2024. Once adopted, school districts will implement these standards by the 2026-2027 school year. The deadline to submit survey responses is May 6th.
Thank you to the many educators who have already submitted a survey. Please let me know if you have any questions.
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Additional Resources and Opportunities
Oregon Capitol K-12 Program Survey
The Oregon State Capitol’s Visitor Services Department is reviewing K-12 programming offered during an onsite or virtual trip, as well as relevant resources. This survey information will enhance existing programming and help develop new resources. Ethnic Studies Youth Conference
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Call for Youth Presenters
Portland Community College’s 6th Ethnic Studies Youth Conference is a platform that centers middle and high school students' voice. This conference bridges communication between and among people, connecting age groups, institutions, and geographies. Free and open to the public, this gathering is a platform for youth voices in a supportive environment.
WHERE: Portland Community College, Rock Creek Campus
17705 NW Springville Rd, Portland, OR 97229
WHEN: Friday, May 24th, 8:30am-3 pm
WHY: To connect youth, advocates, research, & art
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Civics Learning Project
State Summer Institute CEAS: Civics that Empowers All Students : This opportunity is for teachers new to the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution curricular program and professional learning. Open to teachers in all states. Sign up here or contact Beth Cook (bcook@civicslearning.org) for more information.
Elections Materials: Civics Learning Project is happy to provide these lessons for secondary grades to help you and your students learn about the election process in Oregon. Lessons include examining the Oregon Constitution as a primary source, understanding voter eligibility, ballot measures, and definitions relating to elections, the history of voting rights, and more.
Law Day: Registration is open!
The Law Day Conference for Students is an annual event for high school students focusing on legal, social, and political issues. Civics Learning Project is hosting in-person Law Day Conferences around Oregon this year. Registrations are open – visit our Events page to see all events.
Law Day Dates/Info
- Portland - May 10, 2024- P.C.C. - Cascades Campus
- Eugene - May 17, 2024 - University of Oregon, School of Law
- Bend - May 21, 2024 - Central Oregon Community College
- Ashland - May 23, 2024 - Southern Oregon University
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Free Reading Like a Historian Professional Development
The Digital Inquiry Group (formerly Stanford History Education Group) is providing free professional development on new Reading Like a Historian lessons to a limited number of high school U.S. history teachers. Selected teachers will attend four 2-hour synchronous online professional development sessions this summer, complete an asynchronous online course, and participate in online coaching sessions as they implement new materials this fall. The deadline to apply for this opportunity is May 8 at 11:59pm PT.
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Apply Now: LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Advisory Group
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) is currently seeking applicants for its LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Advisory Group.
This group advises ODE on education matters affecting LGBTQ2SIA+ students and families, and its purpose is to address systemic inequities experienced by LGBTQ2SIA+ students through focused investments and community partnerships that align with the LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Plan. Apply now through Friday, June 14, 2024, at 5:00pm
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Community Listening Session on K-5 Lessons
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) alongside Elizabeth Schroeder Consulting and Portland Public Schools is developing a series of K-5 Ethnic Studies lessons for ODE's Oregon Open Learning Hub that will be available for use by schools across the state.
As part of that project Portland Public Schools are hosting two in-person community listening sessions in an effort to gather feedback and stories from folks in the greater Portland area.
One session at Alder Elementary near the Rockwood Boys and Girls Club on May 7th and another at Harriet Tubman Middle School on May 8th . Dinner and child care will be provided! Use the QR code to RSVP.
Please contact Susannah Lightbourne-Maynard with any questions.
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