Classroom Resources by Heart Mountain Interpretive Center

Additional Resources

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2020-10-13 19:47:23 UTC

Other lesson plans, student interactives, and miscellaneous resources for teaching about Japanese American Incarceration

Vocabulary List

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2020-10-13 19:49:45 UTC

A list of terms for students participating in a virtual session, one of our activities or lesson plans.

Women in the Army

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2020-10-20 18:17:35 UTC

Education Standards

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2020-10-27 22:17:02 UTC

A list of Common Core Anchor Standards and Wyoming Department of Education Standards which are met with session activities and lesson plans.

Post Virtual Field Trip Survey

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2020-11-10 18:51:32 UTC

Please take a moment to complete this survey at the conclusion of your virtual field trip to assist us in our efforts to improve the quality of the educational content we provide to students. If you have any questions contact Sybil Kawano, Director of Education at sybil@heartmountain.org.

All We Could Carry

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2021-02-23 21:23:40 UTC

This film serves as the introduction to the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center's exhibits. Created by documentarian Steven Okazaki, this film uses interviews, photographs, and drawings from former Heart Mountain incarcerees.

Look Toward the Mountain

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2021-03-16 17:27:26 UTC

Our podcast, Look Toward the Mountain, tells the stories of Japanese Americans who were incarcerated at Heart Mountain. Told through a combination of archival recordings, written accounts, and contemporary interviews, each episode delves into specific topics demonstrating the innovation, creativity, and resilience that enabled the Japanese American community to endure this unjust ordeal.

Philadelphia JACL Board Chair and Japanese American filmmaker Rob Buscher hosts and produces the podcast.

Look Toward the Mountain - Podcast

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2021-04-21 17:19:53 UTC

Look Toward the Mountain, tells the stories of Japanese Americans who were incarcerated at Heart Mountain. Told through a combination of archival recordings, written accounts, and contemporary interviews, each episode delves into specific topics demonstrating the innovation, creativity, and resilience that enabled the Japanese American community to endure this unjust ordeal.

A Boy of Heart Mountain Reading Guide

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2021-05-26 16:11:27 UTC

In this guide, you will find suggested activities in alignment with Wyoming Department of Education and Common Core literature standards for 2nd - 5th grade students. This guide is divided into units and further subdivided into chapters. Each chapter comes with a summary and comprehensive and discussion questions for students, and several of the units come with additional activities. Teachers are also encouraged to participate in a tour (in-person or virtual) of the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center.

Forced Removal

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2021-05-31 15:45:45 UTC

Interactive Google Earth Presentation that introduces students to relocation, Executive Order 9066, and assembly centers.

They Called Us Enemy Reading Guide

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2021-08-16 22:12:51 UTC

This reading guide is designed to be adjustable for 6th through 12th grade students and is in alignment with Common Core and Wyoming Department of Education literature standards. The novel is divided into units, each of which come with a summary and comprehensive discussion questions. Units also include supplemental reading and activities which may be included or modified based on grade level. Teachers are encouraged to participate in a tour (in-person or virtual) of the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center.

We Are Not Free Reading Guide

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2021-09-03 15:54:50 UTC

This reading guide is designed to be adjustable for 9th through 12th grade students and is in alignment with Common Core and Wyoming Department of Education literature standards. The novel is divided into units, each of which come with a summary and comprehensive discussion questions. Units also include supplemental reading and activities which may be included or modified based on grade level. Teachers are encouraged to participate in a tour (in-person or virtual) of the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center.

Heart Mountain Breezes Article

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2022-03-21 17:14:59 UTC

"Heart Mountain Breezes" column from The Powell Tribune, written in 1942 by Mary Oyama Mittwer. Designed to accompany the Heart Mountain Breezes activity.

3rd-6th grade Pre-Visit Slideshow

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2022-10-13 19:24:11 UTC

Slide to accompany the 3rd-6th grade Geography and Environment lesson plan.

Xenophobia and the Rights of Immigrants

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2023-01-09 19:49:05 UTC

This video by Densho, explains the history of xenophobia in the United States and how it affects minorities, specifically Japanese Americans.

The Resistance: Fighting the Draft at Heart Mountain

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2023-01-09 19:50:03 UTC

An hour long video discussing the resistance movement at Heart Mountain.

An American Hero: The Ted Fujioka Story

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2023-01-09 19:50:18 UTC

A digital short story of a member from the 442nd.

Military Intelligence Service

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2023-01-09 19:50:51 UTC

Take a look at artifacts from the Heart Mountain archives about the Military Intelligence Service (MIS).

The Frank Emi Collection

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2023-01-09 19:51:06 UTC

Learn about Frank Emi and the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee.

Notable Women of Heart Mountain

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2023-01-09 19:51:55 UTC

Video exploring 3 women from Heart Mountain who influenced the American art scene.

For Joy

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2023-01-09 19:52:14 UTC

The story of Joy Terakoa and how her experience at Heart Mountain is shaping contemporary artists.

Kids Behind Barbed Wire

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2023-01-09 19:52:51 UTC

This video discusses the lives of Children at Heart Mountain. Learn about their daily lives and what differentiated their experience from the adults at Heart Mountain.

Kids Meet a Survivor of the Japanese American Internment

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2023-01-09 19:53:06 UTC

A YouTube video of a former incarceree sharing his experience with several children. This video is suited for younger audiences (K-8).

Coping with Confinement

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2023-01-09 19:53:17 UTC

A series of poems and stories written about the incarceration experience at Heart Mountain and its long lasting effect on the Japanese American community. Suggested accompanying activity: Have students imagine how life at Heart Mountain would have been and create their own 'shorts' (poem, short story, etc.).

The Power of Panic

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2023-01-09 19:53:41 UTC

A video tour of our exhibits covering the influence of propaganda during World War II.

A Challenge to Democracy

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2023-01-09 19:53:58 UTC

A film from the war Relocation Authority justifying the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans.

Lessons from the Past

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2023-01-09 19:54:21 UTC

A panel discussion covering the connections between generational trauma, family trauma, and community healing in light of anti-Asian sentiments during the coronavirus pandemic.

Setsuko's Secret

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2023-01-12 20:56:26 UTC

This reading guide is designed to be adjustable for 9th through t12th grade students and is in alignment with Common Core and Wyoming Department of Education literature and Social Studies standards. The book is divided into units, each of which come with a summary and comprehensive discussion questions. Units also include supplemental reading and activities which may be included or modified based on grade level. Teachers are encouraged to participate in a tour (in-person or virtual) of the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center.

3rd-5th Grade Art and Expression Lesson Plan

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2026-08-04 19:52:49 UTC

In this lesson, students will look at artwork and short poems created by Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II. It includes two activities for use in an art class or supplement in a social studies class.

6th-8th Grade Art and Expression Lesson Plan

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2026-08-04 20:16:00 UTC

In this lesson, students will analyze artwork made at Heart Mountain, including the diary of Stanley Hayami.

9th-12th Grade Art and Expression Lesson Plan

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2026-08-07 17:55:19 UTC

In this lesson, students will analyze human experience and cultural expression, and illustrate integrated views of different cultural groups.

Advanced Art and Expression Lesson Plan

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2026-08-07 19:11:10 UTC

This lesson is designed for advanced art classes. Students will analyze the artwork created at Heart Mountain and create their own artwork inspire by what they have learned about Japanese American incarceration.

Museum Etiquette

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2026-08-07 19:40:13 UTC

Please review with students before visiting the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center.

Virtual Field Trip Information

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2026-08-07 20:28:30 UTC

Learn more about virtual field trips on our website. Here you will find videos that allow students to better explore Heart Mountain Interpretive Center and site.

Vocabulary List

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2026-08-07 20:30:55 UTC

A list of terms for students participating in a virtual session, one of our activities or lesson plans.

Heart Mountain Primary Source Activity

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2026-08-14 16:38:16 UTC

In this activity, students will analyze the Final Accountability Roster and the Heart Mountain Sentinel newspaper to research an incarceree. Designed for 6-12th graders to analyze primary sources.

Circle of Viewpoints

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2026-08-14 21:46:51 UTC

This activity is designed to help students identify and explore multiple perspectives.

Incarceration in Focus

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2026-08-14 22:04:09 UTC

In this activity, students explore the photographs of Ansel Adams and Yoshio Okumoto. Students will analyze and discuss how the two photographers looked at similar subjects in different ways.

Primary Source Set

HeartMountainInterpretiveCenter — 2026-08-14 22:06:06 UTC

This Primary Source Set contains historic photos of the Heart Mountain Incarceration Camp.