A collection of FREE and ready-to-use activities, games, and lesson plans for learning @Home

Building History 3.0 is an online collection of interactive activities that teach kids about the World War II Japanese American incarceration camps. Everything here has been designed for kids—from our short documentaries to game-based learning activities in Minecraft. Kids, teachers, parents, and families can learn about what daily life was like for the people who were incarcerated in the camps and why their stories are relevant today.

Videos & Activities

Check out our Video Collection made especially for kids! Each video tells the story of kids and adults affected by the Japanese American incarceration camps.

After watching a video, play an interactive game related to the stories, and try out questions from our worksheets and discussion guides.

Learning Resources

Learn about the Japanese American incarceration camp history by visiting our Timeline and Incarceration Camps Map. Find more on our Resources page, including archival photos and oral histories.

Minecraft

Explore the Japanese American incarceration camps while playing your favorite video game, Minecraft! Visit our Manzanar Virtual Camp and complete a virtual Scavenger Hunt as you discover historical items. As you learn more about camp life from our Learning Resources, you can build your own additions to Manzanar in Minecraft to show the struggles of Japanese Americans.

Playing with a friend, try out the Suitcase Activity, which puts you in the shoes of Japanese American kids who had to pack for the incarceration camps. As you choose from a list of items that can fit into your suitcase, you will have to decide what will be left behind.