Current Events
Resources for conversations with children about tragedy:
- After attacks on Asian American elders, here's how to talk to your kids about racism against us
- How To Start Conversations About Anti-Asian Racism With Your Family
- Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Disasters and Other Traumatic Events
- Talking to Children About Tragedies & Other News Events
- Talking to Kids About George Floyd
Recurring Events
- Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
- Black History Month
- Hispanic Heritage Month
- Juneteenth
- Native American Heritage Month
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
How might you engage with Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage as a family of lifelong learners?
We are providing resources for you and your family — books to read, videos to watch, discussion ideas, and more to explore. You decide what's right for you and your family.
Who We Celebrate
“May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month—a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian-Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Easter Island). Help kids celebrate the rich history and culture of the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have contributed to America’s diversity and success with resources from the Smithsonian, the National Park Service, and more.”
General Resources
Reading Lists
- Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Resource Center | Macmillan Publishing
- 9 Books to Celebrate Asian American and Pacific | PBS Kids
- Asian Pacific American Heritage Books for Kids
- Asian and Asian American Voices Booklist | Penguin Publishing
- Asian Pacific Heritage: Booklists | Colorín Colorado
- Literature Awards – APALA - Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature
Virtual Events
- For Everyone: Asian American and Pacific Islander Experiences Dakota County Library
- ASTC APAH Month 2021 Calendar printable calendar of activities and events
- Spotlight on Asian Americans Thursdays in May 2021 on Youtube and Facebook (ages 5-12)
- 'Butterfly Yellow'* - Young Adult novel Debut May 15, at 9:30 a.m
- 'The Name Jar'* - Picture Book, author reading and art demonstration May 29 at 9:30 a.m.
Virtual Galleries
Black History Month
This February and beyond, how might you engage with Black History as a family of lifelong learners?
We are providing resources for you and your family — books to read, videos to watch, discussion ideas, and more to explore. You decide what's right for you and your family.
Discussion Ideas
Reading Lists
Virtual Events
Virtual Galleries
Hispanic Heritage Month
How might you engage with Hispanic Heritage as a family of lifelong learners?
We are providing resources for you and your family — books to read, videos to watch, discussion ideas, and more to explore. You decide what's right for you and your family.
Juneteenth
Native American Heritage Month
How might you engage with Native American heritage as a family of lifelong learners?
We are providing resources for you and your family — books to read, videos to watch, discussion ideas, and more to explore. You decide what's right for you and your family.
- Land Acknowledgment
- General Resources
- Reading List
- Local Events & Resources
- Online Exhibitions and Virtual Tours
Land Acknowledgment
The Minnesota Department of Education respectfully acknowledges that the land now known as Minnesota is the ancestral homeland of the Dakota and Anishinaabe people. All Wayzata Schools are built on these ancestral lands, and we pay our respect to these stewards both past and present.
To learn more, explore this list of Minnesota Tribes and/or visit Native Land Digital to see traditional boundaries of Native American Tribes.
General Resources
Reading List
Local Events & Resources
- Minneapolis American Indian Center
- Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with Twin Cities PBS
- Our Home: Native Minnesota Exhibit | Minnesota History Center
- Museums & Historic Sites Share American Indian Cultures | Explore Minnesota
- Native American Heritage Month | Minneapolis Institute of Arts
- All My Relations Arts in Minneapolis
- MIGIZI | Minneapolis
Online Exhibitions and Virtual Tours
Discussion Ideas
Books to Read
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Videos to Watch
The show looks at race and racial justice-related topics in an age-appropriate way and offers viewers ideas to build on as they continue these important conversations at home.
In this video from PBS Utah, parents Jami and Mohamed discuss teaching their children about race and racism.
In this video from PBS Utah, parents Kristi and Jake discuss teaching their children about race and racism.
Here is a conversation with the young people who had their talk with adult family members filmed three years ago. This is what they are thinking now.
Headlines across the country referred to Monday's [March 9, 2020] stock market plunge as "Black Monday," one of many ways racism has become entwined in American culture. CBS News contributor Ibram X. Kendi won a national book award for his book tackling America's long history with racism.
Artist Titus Kaphar makes paintings and sculptures that wrestle with the struggles of the past while speaking to the diversity and advances of the present.
Here is a video of Representative Lewis speaking about his graphic novel series and what his hopes are for those who read it.
For middle and high school students.
To watch with older children
To watch with younger children.
Hosted by Alicia Keys, Nick News talks with founders and leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement, offer tools for families to have constructive conversations about race, and highlights teen activists who are fighting racial injustice in Kids, Race and Unity: A Nick News Special.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms takes questions along with CNN's Van Jones and Erica Hill about how to combat racism, and shares a message with kids about how to make a change.
Sesame Street's Abby Kadaby shares a story of how her fellow Sesame Street friend Big Bird was a victim of prejudice, and how she stood up for him. A college professor defines white privilege.
Two children from a heartwarming viral video catch up with each other over video. Former Philadelphia Police Chief Charles Ramsey shares a message to children of color.
More to Explore
This website has additional videos, articles, and book lists.
What does it mean to be anti-racist and how should adults talk to kids about race and racism?
Jim Crow of the North reveals the history and impact of racist real estate covenants.
Nic Stone, author of the best-selling young adult novel Dear Martin, explains why your anti-racist reading lists aren't enough.
This is an NPR interview with Chimamda Adichie. This webpage also includes the video of her TED Talk, The Danger of a Single Story
There have been many calls for conversations about race. Book lists and resource lists abound. For many Black parents and other parents of color, “conversations about race” are a natural and necessary part of the fabric of our lives. For a number of white families, this might be new; or might become another moment of talking about needing to talk about race — without ever taking the steps to honestly do so.
Look into local opportunities for learning and action.
Dig into the resources from the National Museum of African American History & Culture, Smithsonian.
PBS KIDS announced a new special, “PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism,” premiering October 9.