Top - refugees fleeing Laos & Bottom - line of people Hmong Story Cloth

From Laos to the United States

HSS 2.1.1, HSS 2.2.3, RL.2.7, W.2.3

After reading the story “Dia’s Story Cloth,” students will be able to describe how Dia’s life was affected or changed by the Secret War in Laos, locate Southeast Asia on a map, and explain why Hmong people moved to Southeast Asia and came to America.

Story Cloth depicting Hmong life across Laos from Hmongstory Legacy Collection.

Tracing Stories of Home

HSS 2.1.1, W.2.3, SL.2.1, RL.2.3

Students will trace the character Mai’s family story in the “The Whispering Cloth” and understand how the Secret War contributed to the Hmong diaspora and affected what their concept of home is. This will allow students to create a story cloth to narrate their own family story of when the family moved to the local community and how and why they made the trip.

Family tree activity created by Thong Vang.

Stories of Our Families

HSS 2.1.1, RI.3.7, SL.3.4, W.2.3

Students will be able to understand the importance of intergenerational storytelling by listening and discussing with an elder family/community member. Students will analyze the significance of different family structure’s impact on historical understanding by comparing and contrasting traditional Hmong family structures with their own.