DIA’S STORY CLOTHBY: DIA CHA

Introduction

Before Reading

During Reading

After Reading

Map

Further Learning

INTRODUCTION

Hmong make story cloths to tell personal narratives.

Dia Cha and her family experienced a terrible time during the Vietnam War. Born in Laos, Dia fled with her family to Thailand as a child, spending four years in a refugee camp before arriving in the U.S. Her story is shared by many Hmong Americans.

As told through the story cloth stitched by her aunt and uncle, the Hmong people's search for freedom began long ago in China. Dia’s Story Cloth explores many aspects of the Hmong experience from peace and war in Asia to new beginnings in America.

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

Google Earth: Tour from Wausau to Thailand

BEFORE READING

Good Readers always:-think of their schema-ask questions

Share with your Thinking Partner Let’s Record Our Thinking on the Chart Paper

BEFORE READING…..EXPANDING VOCABULARY

What is a Pa’ndau (pronounced pand-dow)?

A type of bear, kind of like a Panda Bear.

A city in Thailand.

A “flower cloth” which is a story on a quilt.

SORRY….

Let’s try to rethink about it!

Back to Question

WAY TO GO! A Pa’ndau is a Hmong story cloth. Hmong are very

talented at needlework and started to record their stories in pictures on cloth.

DURING READING

Remember:

Real Reading is Thinking! While we read, let’s leave tracks of our thinking

on our chart paper Schema, Questions, Visualizations!

AFTER READING

What did you think of the story? What did you think of Dia? What questions did we answer? Do you have any more questions?

LET’S LEARN MORE…

Hmong Farming

Hmong Village and Daily Life