Immigration Lesson Plans

Immigration was an important and fascinating time in our country's history. Students utilize an education software program to discover what life was like for immigrants in New York City in the early 20th century. They study the impact of the Industrial Revolution had on the lives of the immigrants, and create a scrapbook or PowerPoint slide show based on what they have learned.

Fifth graders participate in an Internet knowledge hunt to find specific facts about immigration.  In this immigration lesson, 5th graders navigate links on a worksheet and complete questions with the needed information. Students write about their city.

Investigate national unity in a month-long lesson. After creating "I am from" poems, 5th graders will construct accordion flip books, listing and illustrating reasons for settlement. Choosing illustrations, essays, or Powerpoint presentations, they tell their own personal immigration stories. Working in groups, they create brochures persuading people to immigrate to selected locations.

U.S. immigration is the focus of a unit on social justice. Integrated into the content of a school year, young historians read a variety of texts to learn about four waves of immigration that have occurred over time in the U.S. An emphasis on perspective, cultural values, and character education weaves throughout. 

Students examine statements made by immigrants about immigration. They use the internet to research the truthfulness of these statements. They practice their decision-making skills.

Students examine the reasons why people from Nigeria have immigrated to the United States. They read and describe a refugee's experience leaving her home country. They view a video clip as well.

Tenth graders compare and contrast American Jewish immigrants art and imagery to understand their culture. They work together to develop an analyses of how reality and imagery mix to create Jewish culture in a PowerPoint presentation.

Students view the film "Farmingville" by Carlos Sandoval and Catherine Tambini. They conduct further research on issues related to migrant workers, immigration and hate crimes. They prepare and participate in a debate utilizing their research.

Seventh graders research the past and present policies in the United States regarding immigration. As a class, they read "Immigration Timeline" to examine the various groups who came to America for a better life. To end the lesson, they participate in a debate over the issue of bilingual education and whether it should be allowed in schools.

Seventh graders brainstorm ideas why it is necessary to have a Resident Alien Id card. They complete a KWL chart on what they know about immigrants.