The heart of Stamp Our Story is telling others about the legacy of these American men and women who served our nation amidst so much adversity both at home and abroad, with such dignity and valor.
The themes of perseverance, patriotism, and service are central to their story.
Stamp Our Story is collaborating with educators across the country to develop and share lessons.
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The first curriculum was developed and piloted in Spring 2022 through the generous help of educators at Stoddard Elementary School and the Anaheim Elementary School District in California. The curriculum includes a slide show, a YouTube art lesson, and an exclusive interview with a Japanese American World War II veteran designed for teachers. We thank AESD for allowing us to share their curriculum guide with all interested teachers.
Click here to view the Stamp Our Story Curriculum Guide for educators (including slides) for grades 3-6.
Above is the 10-minute videotaped interview with Go For Broke World War II veteran Don Miyada (100th Bn, A Co.) from April 30, 2021. The raw video was reformatted with questions and answer cards, and vocabulary, to use in a classroom. Click here for the transcript of the interview with Don Miyada.
Above is the YouTube art lesson based on the Go For Broke Soldiers Stamp, courtesy of educator Laura Houston and the Anaheim Elementary School District in Anaheim, California. The lesson was inspired by the stamp and its story.
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“Culture4Kids!” has developed a free 2-page worksheet that includes background about the Go For Broke Soldiers Stamp, as well as a fun relief printing art project.
The project is provided courtesy of the Hawaii Herald Newspaper and the Kauai-based team of educators Carolyn Kubota Morinishi and Marian Kurasaki Kubota. Mahalo! Thank you, Carolyn and Marian!
Feel free to click on the images and drag to your desktop to download and use as needed.
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If you are an educator, or know one, who may be interested in implementing and/or developing additional lessons in collaboration with us, please contact us! Many of us at Stamp Our Story are educators who are always seeking to improve ways to reach our youth. One area in particular that we are currently looking to develop materials for is at secondary level, both middle and high school. Thank you!
Email us at StampOurStory@gmail.com.
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Watch the USC Arts Webinar on the Nisei Soldiers and the Go For Broke Stamp
This creative arts webinar was hosted by the University of Southern California Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religion and Culture, and co-sponsored by the Stamp Our Story Committee, on October 1st, 2021, on Zoom. The event featured stories of the Nisei World War II servicemen and servicewomen and the Go For Broke Soldiers Stamp through the lens of the arts: spoken word, jazz, and theatre.
USC Professor and Playwright Velina Hasu Houston hosted the webinar, and there was a live reading from her new play, Epistles, which features the Japanese American incarceration and military service during the war. Renowned actors Tamlyn Tomita and Tohoru Masamune performed. The play is unfortunately not able to be shown in the rebroadcast due to actors union rules.
The Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble was featured in this program through a collaborative jazz-spoken word performance of “Oregon Stories,” which was based on decorated US Army World War II veteran, George Akiyama, of Hood River, Oregon.
