Meet Famous AAPI Figures in Science Class

We celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month every year in May to recognize and remember the contributions these diverse groups have made to our shared American culture. Students can meet some of the famous AAPI figures (and up-and-coming stars) in the science field and learn how they’re making an impact.

• Discover AAPI contributions to STEM
• Meet young AAPI science trailblazers
• Take a virtual field trip to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

[Discover AAPI contributions to STEM](id-stem)

AAPI individuals are making a big difference in the world of STEM! Explore awesome discoveries, cool inventions, and inspiring journeys of AAPI scientists on Newsela Science with content and resources on topics like:

• How Chinese scientists have created a way to write invisible messages using special paper, water, and UV light.
• The Jacksonville, Florida teen who invented Spark Care+, an award-winning personalized music therapy treatment.
• The 82-year-old app developer from Japan who is breaking barriers by proving older people can master technology and create the technological advances they want to see in the world.

[Meet young AAPI science traliblazers](id-trailblazers)

Young scientists and inventors have the power to change the world. Have students learn about some AAPI leaders like Ruhani Ahluwalia or Gitanjali Rao who are trying to solve problems like beating cancer and fighting America’s water crisis with their research. Then introduce activities like:

• A Think-Pair-Share that gets students thinking about why this research is inspiring and if changemakers like Ahluwalia and Rao have changed students’ opinions about science and science class.
• Brainstorming sessions that encourage students to think about a scientific topic they’d like to research.
• Science projects that encourage students to take their brainstorming ideas and put them into practice by creating S.M.A.R.T. goals and starting low-stakes research and experiments in their interest areas.

[Take a virtual field trip to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park](id-volcano)

Take students on a virtual trip to Hawai‘i to explore one of the state’s natural wonders: Volcanoes. To get the conversation started about these exploding specimens and how they affect life for Pacific Islanders, share resources like:

• An article that shares eight facts about Hawai‘i’s Kilauea volcano.
• An explainer article that details how volcanoes formed the Hawaiian islands.
• An infographic that shows the different types of volcanoes, like cinder cone, composite, and shield.

Newsela goes beyond AAPI Heritage Month

We hope these resources make it easier to help you develop relevant, engaging lessons about AAPI heritage, cultures, and identities in your science classes this May. But Newsela has even more great content, interactive activities, and assessment tools that you can use in the classroom all year. 

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