Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is a great opportunity to explore different cultures, traditions, and innovations from across Asia and the Pacific Islands. One of our favorite ways to celebrate? Hands-on crafts and STEAM activities that make learning come alive!
These 5 fun, educational projects can be done with supplies you likely already have at home. Each one offers a chance to talk about the history and traditions behind it — while sparking creativity and curiosity in your kids.
 Aflo Images | Canva |
🎏 1. DIY Japanese Koinobori (Carp Kites)
In Japan, Koinobori are flying fish-shaped windsocks traditionally flown during Children’s Day in May. The colorful koi fish symbolize strength and perseverance — perfect inspiration for little ones!
You’ll need:
- Paper (construction or printer paper)
- Tape or glue
- Tissue paper or streamers (optional)
- Markers or crayons
- A toilet paper roll (or roll your own tube)
- String or yarn
- Hole punch
Instructions:
- Let kids decorate a sheet of paper with fish scales, eyes, and colors.
- Wrap the paper around a toilet paper roll and glue or tape it to form a tube.
- Cut tissue paper or streamers into strips and glue them inside one end of the tube for the tail.
- Punch two holes in the top, tie string through, and hang it up to watch it "swim" in the wind!
STEAM Tip: Talk about wind direction and airflow — how does the fish move when it's windy outside?
Looking for even more ways to celebrate?
Check out our publishers' favorite children’s books that honor Asian and Pacific Islander voices.
 Jordi Mora Igual | Canva |
🐉 2. Chinese Shadow Puppets
Shadow puppetry has been a beloved form of storytelling in China for over a thousand years! Your kids can create their own characters and stage mini performances with just paper and light.
You’ll need:
- Black construction paper or cardstock
- Scissors
- Tape
- Craft sticks or straws
- A flashlight or lamp
Instructions:
- Draw simple characters (animals, dragons, people) and cut them out.
- Tape each shape to a stick or straw.
- Set up a lamp in a dark room and use a blank wall or white sheet as the screen.
- Let kids act out their own stories using the shadow puppets.
STEAM Tip: Discuss how shadows form and how puppet placement affects size and shape.
 Daboost | Canva |
🗿 3. Mini Moai Sculptures (Easter Island Statues)
The Moai are the iconic stone statues on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), created by the Polynesian people between 1400 and 1650 CE. While we won’t be carving giant stone heads, we can create mini versions that celebrate these ancient engineering marvels.
You’ll need:
- Air-dry clay or homemade salt dough
- Toothpicks (optional, for details)
- Paint (gray, black, or stone colors)
Instructions:
- Roll clay into a head shape (kids can look up Moai pictures for inspiration).
- Add noses, brows, and lips using your fingers or toothpicks.
- Let dry and then paint them to look like stone.
STEAM Tip: Talk about how ancient civilizations moved heavy objects and the engineering behind the Moai.
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🌸 4. Origami Lotus Flower (That Opens in Water!)
The lotus flower is a symbol of purity and growth in many Asian cultures. This origami version “blooms” when you place it in water — a cool science surprise for kids!
You’ll need:
- Paper (printer or origami paper, cut into squares)
- Bowl of water
- Markers (optional)
Instructions:
- Fold your paper into a lotus flower — find directions in the video above.
- Gently fold the petals inward.
- Float it in a bowl of water and watch it slowly unfold!
STEAM Tip: Explore how paper absorbs water and the role of surface tension.
 Lawrence Ruiz | Wikimedia Commons |
🚐 5. Filipino Jeepney Collage or Build
Jeepneys are the most colorful form of public transportation in the Philippines. Originally made from U.S. military jeeps after WWII, they’ve evolved into rolling works of art.
You’ll need:
- Cereal box or cardboard scraps
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- Foil, buttons, bottle caps, etc. for decoration
- Crayons or paint
Instructions:
- Cut a box into a basic bus shape (or just draw one on paper).
- Decorate it using recycled materials — the brighter, the better!
- Add wheels with bottle caps or circles of paper.
STEAM Tip: Chat about how different countries solve transportation challenges and why recycling matters.
Embracing the diversity of cultures
Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month with your kids doesn’t have to be complicated — just meaningful. These hands-on projects are great ways to open conversations, spark creativity, and appreciate the beauty and diversity of AAPI cultures.
This article was crafted (pun intended) with a little help from ChatGPT. No glue sticks were harmed in the making of this article.
