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Aimed at elementary teachers and students, this project supports the teaching of East Asia through picture books in Colorado classrooms. The books used in this project address specific Colorado standards in social studies, and allow students to gain literacy skills and address visual art standards as they read and examine the materials. The project thus responds to specific classroom needs as teachers must address these standards. As students gain knowledge about the physical world around them, they will also learn about the cultures of East Asia, making them more familiar with cultural similarities and differences.

With the rise of anti-Asian racism and violence in America in the last few years, creating a better cross-cultural understanding can never begin too early. Bringing awareness of different cultures into elementary classrooms will help to develop more inclusive societies as children begin to comprehend that they are part of a global citizenship that must strive for mutual understanding.

For this project, Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØstudents travel to schools in the Denver-Boulder metro area to present a one-hour story time during which they read a book to students and present a short lesson on its content. To reach underrepresented communities, we have been working with the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØstudents to develop a Zoom version of their presentation. Teachers opting for a Zoom presentation receive the same materials as those opting for an in-person session (books, curricular materials, and resources).

Read more about our classroom outreach program:

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Promoting cultural understanding one storybook at a time

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Expanding career horizons through classroom outreach

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Looking at the big picture (book) of East Asia

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Campus Compact 2026 Impact Award for Excellence in Community Engagement Programming

TEA’s Teaching East Asia Through Picture Books program was one of five programs recognized for the 2026 Excellence in Civic & Community Engagement Programming Awards - an award highlighting programs that have utilized on-campus civic and community engagement in a way that makes deep and long-lasting positive change. Teaching East Asia Through Picture Books has been helping K-12 classrooms establish cross-cultural connections with Asia since its launch in 2024 and has reached classrooms across Colorado. By introducing students to East Asian topics through picture books on natural sciences, geography, biographies, and more, TEA has opened the opportunity for teachers and students alike to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of East Asia, and it strives to continue doing so for years to come.

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This project is made possible through generous funding from the National Consortium for Teaching about East Asia, the Office of Outreach and Engagement at the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØ, and the Japan Foundation, New York.