Teaching about Japanese American Internment and Fred Korematsu

Fred Korematsu is remembered for his courageous fight against the Japanese American Internment which led to the 1944 Supreme Court case, Korematsu v. United States. Fred Korematsu was exonerated almost 40 years later and was eventually awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton.

FREE MATERIALS TO TEACH ABOUT THE JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNMENT AND FRED KOREMATSU

The Korematsu Institute (www.korematsuinstitute) wants to send you a FREE Teaching Kit that helps teachers instruct on the life of Fred Korematsu and the overall Japanese American internment during World War II.

We hope you inform your teachers about this FREE Teaching Kit, and help us spread teaching materials about pivotal story in U.S. History. Please feel free to pass this email forward.

The Korematsu Institute (www.korematsuinstitute.org) has a wealth of free teaching materials that help students learn about Fred and the Japanese American internment during World War II. Items include:

  • a K-12 teaching guide,
  • a Fred Korematsu classroom poster,
  • videos appropriate for students at all grade levels,
  • a one-day lesson plan/PowerPoint presentation,
  • the 24 minute version of the Emmy Award winning video, “Of Civil Wrongs and Rights, the Fred Korematsu Story.”

CELEBRATE FRED KOREMATSU DAY ON HIS BIRTHDAY, JANUARY 30TH

Fred Korematsu Day is celebrated on his birthday each year, January 30th. This is a good time to connect Fred’s story with other civil rights champions, examine key civil liberties issues, and remember the stories of the 120,000 people (approximately 70% were American citizens) who were interned in concentration camps without due process of law.

PLEASE SHARE THE WORD ABOUT OUR MATERIALS WITH YOUR TEACHERS

We want as many teachers as possible to teach about this important part of U.S. and Constitutional history,” says Karen Korematsu, Fred’s daughter. “We’ve worked with funders to make sure materials are free of charge and also downloadable.”

JOIN US AT THE NCSS CONFERENCE IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI THIS NOVEMBER

We will be attending the National Council for Social Studies Conference in St. Louis, this November. Please see us at our Conference Presentation:

  • Teaching About Fred Korematsu and the Japanese American WWII Internment: Friday, November 22, 10:00-11:00: Room 263
  • Stories of Civil Rights Champions: Cesar Chavez and Fred Korematsu: Sunday, November 24, 8:00-10:00 am: Room 240