The Most Beautiful Thing

The Most Beautiful Thing

This lesson plan is based on the book, The Most Beautiful Thing, which portrays the culture and history of the Hmong people. Weaving together a young girl named Kalia’s story with that of her beloved grandmother, the book moves from the jungles of Laos to the family’s early years in the United States. Included are several tools that you can use to introduce your students to the book, including instructions for when to use them. Each activity is designed to be flexible in terms of timeline and length.

Lesson Objectives

1. Analyze the relationships between family, culture, beauty, and wealth.

2. Understand the value of cultural wealth.

3. Understand the history of the Hmong people and how it impacts us today.

This lesson plan kit includes:

• About the Book, Author, and Illustrator (K-5)

• Vocabulary (K-5)

• Themes (K-5)

• Theme Chart (K-3)

• Reading Guide (K-5, contains a variety of adaptable questions)

• Drawing Activity (K-3)

• History of the Hmong (K-5) & Historical Connections Worksheet (3-5)

• "Yer and the Tiger" (K-5)

• Listen & Discuss Activities (Listen: K-3, Discuss: K-5)

• Compare & Contrast with The Most Beautiful Thing (K-5)

Essential Questions:

1. How can one’s familial heritage influence oneself as they grow up?

2. How is literature used to reflect key themes surrounding family, culture, beauty, and wealth?

3. Why is it important to understand the history of the Hmong people, and how can we see the impact of their stories today?

The standards covered in this lesson are: Common Core Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.2, K.6, K.7, K.9, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.7, 3.2, 3.3, 3.6, 3.7, 4.7, 4.9, 5.7, 5.9.

Lesson plan created by Morgan Yen and Anika Shethia in partnership with OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates

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