Overview
Hmong Contributions: Industrial and Societal Impacts
Author: Liz Ureno
Grades: 11-12
Suggested Amount of Time: 180 Minutes
Area of Study: Community Building, Home-making and Empowerment
Compelling Question
- How do Hmong people build and sustain community and belonging?
Lesson Questions
- How do Hmong people navigate discrimination and oppression to create and sustain community and belonging?
- How can businesses impact or influence communities or society?
- How have/can different groups (Hmong) add to the American business industries and society as a whole?
- How do Hmong economic contributions bring innovative ideas to society?
Lesson Objective
After defining the characteristics of American business industries and how they came to be, students will research successful Hmong contributions that either provide continuity or change in various industries and what effects this contribution can have on society.
Lesson Background
After coming to America as refugees from Southeast Asia, many Hmong migrated to various parts of the country in search of better opportunities, mainly California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. As they settled, Hmong Americans contributed to different sectors of society such as farming, media, and medicine by bringing their prior knowledge and the new skills they gained through work and education. As a result, Hmong Americans brought innovation and created new possibilities for economic and communal uplift.
Image Citation: Stanly, T. (2015). Farmer Fresno 2008 [Photograph]. Yang Design / Hmongstory 40, Fresno, CA.
Skills
Historical Thinking Skill
This lesson will facilitate student proficiency in historical significance, one of Seixas’ historical thinking skills (Seixas & Morton, 2013). Educators improve student familiarity with the criteria for historical significance. Educators may enhance this lesson by having students examine how social, political, and cultural elements have changed and stayed the same over time among various refugee communities.
Materials
Supplies
- Access to laptop device
- T-chart
- Photo of Judge Paul Lo
- Visual platform to create infographic (Flipgrid, Prezi, Canva, etc.)
Readings
- Hmong – California’s Gold (11003) from Chapman University
- “General Vang Pao Trial: California Hmong Community Rally Together Shifting Needs of a Community” from California Phase
- Various Txhawb California Hmong Directory magazine articles:
- “Vang Pao Elementary School Opens Fall 2012” (46–50)
- “Media Chat with Zoua Vang” (50–53)
- “Txhawb Profile: Sandy Cha” (85)
- “Txhawb Profile: Dr. Geryoung Yang” (41)
- “Txhawb Profile: Soua Cha” (44)
- “Txhawb Profile: Thong Chai & Winton Xiong” (102)
Handout
- Note-taking for Day 2: Step 3
- Link to handout: https://ucdavis.box.com/s/8wasd6k9z3cfofj5rwwowc76xkx1uzrv
Procedures
Day 1 (60 minutes)
Step 1: Engage
- Teacher presents the concept of ‘Business Industries’ to students on board and asks students to make a list of all of the business industries that they can think of
- Industry defined: a sector of the economy that produces raw materials, goods, or services.
- Examples of Types of Business Industries (This list should be kept on the board for the remainder of the lesson):
- Agriculture
- Communications
- Education
- Logistics
- Mechanical/Machinery
- Media
- Retail
- Government
- Technology
- Teachers then will ask students to pick one of the industries from the list and write down how they feel a business should reflect the community or society’s values.
- For example, the media industry should reflect the community by showcasing diversity in people and groups represented.
- The teacher leads a brief class discussion on student answers and identifies any patterns or themes seen in their answers. Remind students that many different types of actions, people, and events make a business/industry what it is today. Impact made on the community or society is the result of ideas of people that come from different cultures, experiences, and values. Society is made up of cultural ideas, ideals, beliefs, and human behaviors and activities that can create change or keep continuity. America is a diverse country, so many different groups contribute to the characteristics of industries.
Step 2: Explore
- Teacher shows photo of Judge Paul Lo sworn into Merced County Superior Court as the first American Judge of Hmong descent https://ucdavis.box.com/s/yj7tyjwkm4nghv11mc0757o676wohv7g (Txhawb California Directory, 2015, 31). Merced County consists of a large Hmong-American community.
- The teacher explains how Lo is the first Hmong American to become an American judge. (Teacher can refer to the whole article https://ucdavis.box.com/s/rzmwbegol24m9ng837egcawj3oycz90o.)
- Teacher asks students to identify what industry this is considered (Answer: Government)
- Teacher asks students to discuss with a partner how they think Lo participates in this industry.
- What characteristics of this industry might Lo continue?
- Example: upholding the law, educated on court cases, unbiased
- What might he change?
- Students should think about what makes up a person’s culture, identity, background, traditions, values, etc.
- Example: use his cultural values to give a different perspective on the cases he judges
- Students should think about what makes up a person’s culture, identity, background, traditions, values, etc.
- How can being the first Hmong American judge impact a society?
- What characteristics of this industry might Lo continue?
- After sharing out answers with the class or in small groups, the teacher should state that in this lesson, the class will research a specific group of people that have contributed to a business industry that impacts the community and society – the Hmong people.
- Give brief background information on Hmong history of seeking refuge in the United States, then migrating to various locations afterwards. (Optional: It might be helpful for students to engage in the following terms/figures with a vocabulary matrix.)
- Include key terms and historical figures
- Key Terms and Historical Figures:
- Secret War in Laos: The Secret War in Laos was the largest CIA operation in history. Laos was used as a pawn for its strategic positioning between its neighboring countries from which the United States could launch military attacks during the Cold War, specifically the Vietnam War.
- General Vang Pao: A Hmong general during the Secret War who commanded Hmong soldiers. Became undisputed leader of the Hmong people, leading them into refuge in Thailand, then later advocating for Hmong refugees in the United States
- Refugee: Refugees experience forced migration due to fear of political persecution including war, religion, gender and sexual persecution.
- Migration: a person who moves from one place to another, especially in order to find work or better living conditions.
- Key Terms and Historical Figures:
- Include key terms and historical figures
Day 2 (60 minutes)
Step 3: Elaborate
- Teacher will present students with the following research materials about Hmong actions, events or people:
- Hmong – California’s Gold (11003) – Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University 2009, January 14 (Agriculture) https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2009/01/14/hmong-californias-gold-11003/
- Hmong40 Exhibit Panels (Civics)
- “General Vang Pao Trial: California Hmong Community Rally Together” (summarize the major details of Vang Pao arrest from 2007 to 2011) https://ucdavis.box.com/s/t2v5b502do1n5ozqg8c9hj5fpp9a479h
- “Shifting Needs of a Community” (showcasing first Hmong police officer in the city of Fresno in 1990 and story of Lao Hmong American Veterans Memorial in Fresno in 2005) https://ucdavis.box.com/s/uv2pzj03eetw5wcx2l9b1z682sbf0n8m
- Txhawb 2013 (46–50): “Vang Pao Elementary School Opens Fall 2012” (story about the community effort behind and achievement of the naming of Vang Pao Elementary School in Fresno, California) (Education) https://ucdavis.box.com/s/okwmqhumxd2irjqa4wncjbvrp21c9xc6
- Txhawb 2010 (50–53): “Media Chat with Zoua Vang” (feature on the experiences of network television anchor Zoua Vang) (Communications and Journalism) https://ucdavis.box.com/s/6o3fxkqw035sk6yaijbz7bdkcer1t8iv
- Txhawb 2009 (85): Business and Community Profiles - “Txhawb Profile: Sandy Cha” (shares her story of the challenges growing up poor and Hmong and her current work as Wells Fargo's Community Development Officer of the Central California region) (Finance) https://ucdavis.box.com/s/azdepb9ck2nrr0n1eec0uktb4ltjjv3t
- Txhawb 2011 (41): Business and Community Profiles - “Txhawb Profile: Geryoung Yang” (shares his story of becoming a Hmong Dentist and shares his perspective on family, education and community service) (Medical) https://ucdavis.box.com/s/47l6sqwwl3sxrjad23d2cil9ldp0n00b
- Txhawb 2011 (44): Business and Community Profiles - “Txhawb Profile: Soua Cha” (Citi Tire owner shares his Hmong American business story) (Mechanic) https://ucdavis.box.com/s/og0ollbnjo1ct3dqu7v0c3jm7wbl5p4z
- Txhawb 2014 (102): Business and Community Profiles - “Profile: Thong Chai and Winton Xiong” (share the story of their family market, "TC Fresh Meats" in Fresno, CA) (Agriculture) https://ucdavis.box.com/s/maz6z2qb58cvuv56xp5uh16krntngkpv
- Options for completing research can include:
- Assign a separate or multiple research material(s) to each student
- Assign a separate or multiple research material(s) to a pair of students
- Students will read and analyze their assigned source.
- During their analysis, the following questions should be answered (use Note-taking Handout https://ucdavis.box.com/s/8wasd6k9z3cfofj5rwwowc76xkx1uzrv):
- What is the source about?
- What American business industry is the source referring to?
- Examples from the source that relate to the specific American industry
- This may include but not limited to: culture, race, gender, education, civic, individuality, sexuality, and religion etc.
- What change or continuity have the Hmong people brought to specific industries? (Continuity: similarities are found in significant aspects of life, similarities are widely felt across society/time period. Change: dramatic difference in the way things function, effects are widely felt across society/time period.)
- This may include but not limited to: new ideas, actions, ways of thinking, opportunities, etc.
- All answers should relate to the Hmong contributions
- It is also important to discuss with students that American industry can be on a small scale or a large scale
- Example: California-American society, Midwest-American society, or American society as a whole
- It is also important to discuss with students that American industry can be on a small scale or a large scale
- Teachers may want to encourage multiple read-throughs, using the 3Rs below, of the source to gather all aspects of the analysis.
- First Read: Gain a general understanding of the text.
- Second Read: Examine language and structure of text.
- Third Read: Make inferences, craft opinions and arguments, and make intertextual connections.
- During their analysis, the following questions should be answered (use Note-taking Handout https://ucdavis.box.com/s/8wasd6k9z3cfofj5rwwowc76xkx1uzrv):
- After research is complete, students will participate in a Give One, Get One sharing activity. Each student will go around the classroom, and speak with two to three different peers to provide a brief explanation of their source and findings with a partner. Peers are welcome to ask questions for clarification and offer suggestions. Encourage students to share with peers who looked at different sources than they did.
- Teacher will time this activity, allowing for at least two minutes for each partner to explain.
- Students will then move on to find another partner and repeat the process. Repeat until each student has talked with two to three other peers.
- It is beneficial for students to compare notes from different sources to their personal notes.
Day 3 (60 mins)
Step 4: Evaluate
- Once information is gathered from the various sources, students will create a visual project to display their findings. This can be in the form of an infographic, Flipgrid, Prezi, etc.
- Students should use a visual website that will display their findings in a creative and engaging way, such as Canva www.canva.com.
- The following written information should be displayed in the visual product:
- The name of the source(s) researched
- A brief summary of the information presented in the source(s)
- Identify the Hmong success of the source(s)
- Make sure to include key actions, people, or events
- What are some major characteristics of industry seen in the source(s)?
- What specific values or aspects of Hmong society (value, culture, traditions, history, etc.) can you see in this source(s)?
- How have/can different groups (Hmong) change or evolve the specific industry?
- How can additions to American industry bring Hmong people closer together?
- The following visual information should also be displayed:
- Graphics, videos, or photos that highlight the written information from the source(s)
- Infographic should be creative and engaging
Step 5: Sharing and Reflection
- After completing the visual product, students will share with a partner or small group to present their creation and discuss the reflection question: How can Hmong people’s contributions impact society? Students should use evidence from their research to support answers.
Assessments
After learning about characteristics of American industry and how it can evolve, students will create a visual project of their choosing that demonstrates specific Hmong American action, events, or people that affect continuity and change in American industry. This can be in the form of an infographic, slideshow, or other multimedia presentation.
Scaffolds
- Engagement: Consider the following method to support with lesson engagement:
- Differentiate the degree of difficulty or complexity within which core activities can be completed
- Representation: Consider the following method to support with multiple means of representation:
- Provide templates, graphic organizers, concept maps to support note-taking
- Action and Expression: Consider the following method to support in presenting their learning in multiple ways:
- Provide differentiated feedback (e.g., feedback that is accessible because it can be customized to individual learners)
- Provide sentence starters or sentence strips
For additional ideas to support your students, check out the UDL Guidelines at CAST (2018) http://udlguidelines.cast.org.
Multilingual Learner Supports
- Emerging: Consider the following method to support with emerging students:
- Writing: Require students to label visuals
- Expanding: Consider the following method to support with expanding students:
- Writing: Teach signal words (comparison, chronology, cause effect, listing) for academic writing
- Bridging: Consider the following method to support with bridging students:
- Writing: Require academic writing and the use of target academic vocabulary
- Apply domain-specific vocabulary and general Academic vocabulary in open sentence frames to perform functions, like describing or explaining, that target specific grammatical structures.
- Writing: Require academic writing and the use of target academic vocabulary
For additional guidance around scaffolding for multilingual learners, please consult the following resources:
- English Learner Toolkit of Strategies, https://ucdavis.box.com/s/ujkdc2xp1dqjzrlq55czph50c3sq1ngu
- Providing Appropriate Scaffolding, https://www.sdcoe.net/educators/multilingual-education-and-global-achievement/oracy-toolkit/providing-appropriate-scaffolding#scaffolding
- Strategies for ELD, https://ucdavis.box.com/s/dcp15ymah51uwizpmmt2vys5zr2r5reu
- ELA / ELD Framework, https://www.caeducatorstogether.org/resources/6537/ela-eld-framework
- California ELD Standards, https://ucdavis.box.com/s/vqn43cd632z22p8mfzn2h7pntc71kb02
Enrichment
- Students can also find their own research on Hmong actions, events, or people that affect American industry instead of using the provided sources.
- Example: History of Hmong farming in Fresno - Cherta Farms story (7:22 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0EEVlhvEH8&t=13s
- Students can use the Hmong Oral History Project (https://digitalcommons.csp.edu/hmong-studies_hohp/) to learn about another Hmong topic (Hmong Culture in Laos, Secret War, Immigrant Experience, etc). Students can use this information to compare and contrast what they learned about each success story according to their chosen source from the main activity.
- Does the oral history support the results of your original source and research? If so, how?
- Does the oral history refute the conclusions you made in this lesson? If so, how?
- Does the oral history provide evidence of changes over time that you can see compared to your original source and research? Why or why not?
Works Cited
Britt, K. 2020c, May 11. English learner toolkit of strategies. California County Superintendents. https://cacountysupts.org/english-learner-toolkit-of-strategies/
California Department of Education & English Learner Support Division. 2012. California English Language Development standards (Electronic Edition) kindergarten through grade 12 (F. Ong & J. McLean, Eds.). California Department of Education. https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/el/er/documents/eldstndspublication14.pdf
California Educators Together. (n.d.). ELA / ELD framework. https://www.caeducatorstogether.org/resources/6537/ela-eld-framework
California Phase. 2015. General Vang Pao trial: California Hmong community rally together. Hmongstory 40. https://ucdavis.box.com/s/t2v5b502do1n5ozqg8c9hj5fpp9a479h
CAST. 2018. The UDL guidelines. http://udlguidelines.cast.org
Howser, H. 2009, January 14. Hmong – California’s Gold (11003). Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University. https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2009/01/14/hmong-californias-gold-11003/
Lee, B. N. 2010. Media chat with Zoua Vang. Txhawb Hmong California Directory, 3, 50–53. https://irp.cdn-website.com/b2871686/files/uploaded/Txhawb_2010.pdf
San Diego County Office of Education. (n.d.). Providing appropriate scaffolding. https://www.sdcoe.net/educators/multilingual-education-and-global-achievement/oracy-toolkit/providing-appropriate-scaffolding#scaffolding
Sexias, P. & Morton, T. 2013. The big six: Historical thinking concepts. Nelson Education.
Thao, K. S., Moua, K. K., & Thao, M. T. 2015. Shifting needs of a community. California Phase, Hmongstory40, Fresno, CA. https://ucdavis.box.com/s/uv2pzj03eetw5wcx2l9b1z682sbf0n8m
Tulare County Office of Education. (n.d.). Strategies for ELD. https://commoncore.tcoe.org/Content/Public/doc/Alpha-CollectionofELDStrategies.pdf
Vang, B. 2009. Txhawb profile: Sandy Cha. Txhawb Hmong California Directory, 2, 85. https://irp.cdn-website.com/b2871686/files/uploaded/Txhawb_2009.pdf
Vang, B. 2011. Txhawb profile: Dr. Geryoung Yang. Txhawb Hmong California Directory, 4, 41. https://irp.cdn-website.com/b2871686/files/uploaded/Txhawb_2011.pdf
Vang, B. 2011. Txhawb profile: Soua Cha. Txhawb Hmong California Directory, 4, 44. https://irp.cdn-website.com/b2871686/files/uploaded/Txhawb_2011.pdf
Vang, S., & Yang, L. 2014. Judge Paul Lo sworn into Merced County Superior Court [Photograph by Joaquin Hernandez], Txhawb California Directory, 8, 32. https://irp.cdn-website.com/b2871686/files/uploaded/Txhawb_2015.pdf
Xiong, I. 2014. Txhawb profile: Thong Chai & Winton Xiong. Txhawb Hmong California Directory, 7, 102. https://irp.cdn-website.com/b2871686/files/uploaded/Txhawb_2014.pdf
Yang, S. P., & Xyooj, P. M. 2013. Vang Pao Elementary School opens Fall 2012. Txhawb Hmong California Directory, 6, 46–50. https://irp.cdn-website.com/b2871686/files/uploaded/Txhawb_2013.pdf
Supplementary Sources
DigitalCommons@CSP. (n.d.). Hmong oral history project. https://digitalcommons.csp.edu/hmong-studies_hohp/
Hmongstory 40 Project. 2016, August 25. History of Hmong farming in Fresno - Cherta Farms story [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0EEVlhvEH8&t=13s