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Lesson Plan, Article, Video, Activity :

Lesson Plan, Article, Video, Activity Chinese American Contributions to Business and Entrepreneurship

  • Grade Level 6th-12th Grade
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Introduction

This lesson plan supports the Committee of 100’s report entitled, "From Foundations to Frontiers: Chinese American Contributions to the Fabric of America.” It specifically addresses the section entitled, “Building an Economic Powerhouse” (pp. 17-28). More specifically, it focuses on the history of Chinese American contributions to the infrastructure of the country, including their contributions to business and entrepreneurship today.
In this lesson, students will learn about past and present Chinese American entrepreneurs who have transformed society through the creation of laundry industries, the construction of railroads that united the country, and the design of media platforms that are used by millions of people each day. Students will research Chinese American entrepreneurs and identify the various challenges they faced.

Lesson Objectives:
Students will:

  • Describe the contributions of Chinese Americans to U.S. business and entrepreneurship
  • Define “Bamboo Ceiling” and identify barriers faced by Chinese Americans in corporate leadership

Essential Questions

  • Why did early Chinese immigrants come to the United States?

  • How were early Chinese immigrants discriminated against?

  • Why were early Chinese immigrants forced to create their own businesses? How did they overcome the discrimination?

  • How did Chinese immigrants demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit? How did they fill a need or a gap?