Step Inside Asia

In our most recent reading unit, we’ve been diving into the geography and cultures of Asia, and not just the countries students usually hear about like China, Japan, or India. We wanted to make sure we were giving representation to all parts of Asia, highlighting its incredible diversity. Along the way, we’ve had some great conversations about stereotypes and how picture books can help challenge those by sharing more authentic and varied stories.

One of my favorite parts of the unit was using the thinking routine Step Inside. Students were asked to "step inside" the life of someone from Asia and consider what that person might see, care deeply about, believe, and wonder. It was amazing to watch students shift their thinking and show empathy through their reflections. They really embraced the opportunity to see the world through someone else’s eyes. They weren’t just learning about faraway places; they were connecting, imagining, and thinking deeply. 

Now that the students have built background knowledge on Asia and its people, we are going to explore how Marvel has helped represent Asian culture in mainsteam media.