Curriculum Materials

Brown box containing Manzanar's Educator Resources and curriculum

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Educator Resources Box

Manzanar's Educator Resources Box is available for sale in our bookstore. The box contains extensive standards-based lesson plans, four reproductions of the Manzanar Free Press newspaper, our award-winning documentary DVD, Remembering Manzanar (22 minutes), and much more. The box sells for $29.95 plus tax and shipping.

Introduction to Curriculum

Educator Resources User Guide.

Education Standards

These lessons are based on the following National and California standards. Take a look at the standards to find a corresponding lesson that meets your needs.

Primary Standards:
National
California

Secondary Standards:
National
California
 

Primary Curriculum (4th Grade)

Some files are quite large. Lesson 1 is available as a complete lesson. Lessons 2 - 4 are available both as complete lessons and as individual activities. Download based on your classroom needs or your Internet connection speed. If you have a fast connection, you are welcome to download the entire Primary Curriculum (23.6 MB).

Lesson 1: Identity (2.8 MB)
How do we Start to Understand Different Life Experiences?

Includes Activities:
Who Am I?
What is Your Family Story?
What is a Shared Past?
Lesson 3: War(7.7 MB)
How does War Affect our Lives?

Includes Activities:
1. So Far From the Sea(.9 MB)
2. War(1.2 MB)
3. Introducing War Hysteria(4.9 MB)
4. KWL(.9 MB)
Lesson 4: Remembering Manzanar(17 MB)
How did Japanese Americans' Identities Shape their Internment Experiences?

Includes Activities:
1. Remembering Manzanar(1.6 MB)
2. Interned(3.2 MB)
3. 10,000 Lives, 10,000 Stories(2.3 MB)
4. Extra, Extra! Read All About It!(10 MB)
5. Daily Activities(2.8 MB)
6. Who Were These People?(19.8 MB)
7. Life After Camp(2.7 MB)
8. What is Freedom and Who Will Guarantee it?(2.8 MB)
9. KWL(.6 MB)

Secondary Curriculum (10th and 11th Grades)

Lessons 1 - 5 are available both as complete lessons and as individual activities. Lesson 6 is just one activity. If you have a fast connection, you are welcome to download the entire Secondary Curriculum (26.6 MB).

Lesson 1: Identity Awareness(7.7 MB)
How do we Start to Understand Different Life Experiences?

Includes Activities:
1. Who Am I?(1.3 MB)
2. Friends(4 MB)
3. Perceptions(1.3 MB)
4. KWL(1.3 MB)
Lesson 3: War(4.6 MB)
How Does War Affect America's Identity?

Includes Activities:
1. History of Japanese Americans(1.4 MB)
2. War(1.3 MB)
3. Introducing War Hysteria(1.5 MB)
4. KWL(.7 MB)
Lesson 4: Internment Experiences(4.4 MB)
How did the Identities of Japanese Americans Shape their Internment Experiences?

Including Activities:
1. Remembering Manzanar(1 MB)
2. Interned(.8 MB)
3. Identities(1.5 MB)
4. Daily Motion(.7 MB)
5. KWL(.7 MB)
Lesson 5: Perspectives and Consciousness(5.9 MB)
How can Perspectives Dictate the Treatment of a Race or a Community?

Includes Activities:
1. The Power of Words(2.3 MB)
2. Perspectives(.9 MB)
3. Racism and Racial Profiling(2.4 MB)
4. KWL(.8 MB)
Lesson 6: Identity Shaping Experiences(1.3 MB)
How can we Stand for Freedom?

Includes Activity:
Apology

Additional Resources

  • ID Booklets: These biographical booklets tell the personal stories of internees and others directly affected by the internment experience.
  • KWL Chart:Use this chart when directed in lessons to have students reflect on "What do I know?"; "What do I want to know?"; and "What have I learned?"
  • Guided Tours: This page will give you more information about scheduling a ranger-led program for your students.

Last updated: April 8, 2020

Contact the Park

Mailing Address:

Manzanar National Historic Site
P.O. Box 426
5001 Highway 395
Independence, CA 93526

Phone:

(760)878-2194 x3310
Need to speak with a ranger? Call this number for general information.

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