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Lesson 2: The First Koreatown and the Legacy of Dosan Ahn Chang Ho
​Activity 2: ​Where Was the First Koreatown and Who Was Dosan Ahn Chang Ho?

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Students explore the life of Dosan Ahn Chang Ho, his immigration to the United States, and his life as an activist and community builder. They examine how the first Koreatown was established in Riverside, California, and compare the experiences of Korean, Mexican, and women citrus pickers and packers. They identify Dosan's contributions to the United  States and Korea and consider ways to make contributions of their own.

Dosan Ahn Chang Ho picking oranges in Southern California circa 1910 (Source: Wikipedia)

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Activity Questions

  • What were characteristics of the first Koreatown in Riverside, California?

  • Who was Dosan Ahn Chang Ho?

  • What was life like for immigrant and women workers in the early California citrus industry?

  • What contributions did he make to California and the United States?

  • What contributions did he make to the Korean American community?

  • What contributions did he make to Korea?

  • What can we contribute to the Korean American community, California, the United States, and Korea?​


Instructional Strategies

  • Use the Lesson 2 Teacher's Guide and Lesson 2 Presentation found under Lesson 2

​Introduction

  • Introduce the lesson using the first slide.  Help students identify Riverside, California as the location of the statue.

Introduction to Dosan Ahn Chang Ho and the First Koreatown

  • Review the slides about Dosan Ahn Chang Ho and Pachappa Camp. (As a special treat, bring in quarters of navel oranges to share with students.)

Activity: Similarities and Differences

  • Divide students into groups of 3 or 6 and assign each member (or pair of members) one of the three articles ("Pachappa Camp," "A Woman's World," and "The Roots of Inequality") (download below). 

  • Have students read the articles and complete the "Article Analysis Worksheet" (download below) 

  • When lists are complete, have students regroup and create a 3-circle Venn Diagram of similarities and differences between experiences of the three groups of immigrants-Koreans, Mexicans, and women.  

  • Share and discuss findings.

Dosan's Support of Korean Independence

  • Review the remaining slides in Lesson 2.  Take time to explain that Korea was under the control of Japan and that Dosan was fighting for Korean independence.

Quick Writes Activity

  • Provide students with the following prompt and allow them five minutes to quick-write their response. Call on student volunteers to share their reflections.

    • There are many U.S. memorials of Dosan Ahn Chang Ho. Write for 5 minutes about why he is so revered in the United States and Korea. Use these questions to guide your response:

      • Who was Dosan Ahn Chang Ho?

      • What contributions did he make to California?

      • What contributions did he make to the Korean American community?

      • What contributions did he make to Korea?

Closing Activity

  • End class by having some students share their Quick Writes about Dosan Ahn Chang Ho and his contributions to contributions  to California, the United States, the Korean American community, and Korea?

  • Pose the question: What could we contribute to the Korean American community, California, the United States, and Korea?

  • Have this lead into the Summative Assessment for Lesson 2. See Civic Engagement Extension Support for resources.


Resources

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Article: A Woman's World (PDF)

Article: Pachappa Camp (PDF)

Article: Roots of Inequality (PDF)

Article Analysis Worksheet (PDF)

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