Learning Objectives:

1. Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, themes, developments, and turning points in US history.

2. Students will understand the life of an immigrant.

Motivational Goals:

1. Promote value of information skills.

2. Reinforce confidence in research ability.

1. Read a picture book to students about immigration (such as Journey to Ellis Island, Memory Coat, When Jessie Came across the Sea, Coming to America).

2. Have students work with a partner or in a small group to answer the following questions:
-What country is the person originally from?
-Why are they coming to America?
-What was the journey like?
-What was his/her experience like once he/she arrived?
-Do you think he/she was better off coming to America?
-Share answers with class

3. Create a list of questions students have about immigration.

4. Introduce students to primary documents such as the Library of Congresses memory site, and what can be learned from them.

5. Research immigration with primary documents and classroom material.

6. Use graphic organizers for notes on various topics of immigration.

7. Students choose a project such as the examples below:

-Imagine you're an immigrant. Choose your home country, and then describe what your journey might be like, including entering Ellis Island.

-Compare and contrast your school experience and that of an immigrant in the early 1900's. (May use a Venn diagram.)

-Imagine you're an immigrant. Create a poster to describe your new life. Include your home (tenement), city you might live in, job, food, how others respond to you, etc.