Curated OER
Consequences of the Sedition Act
Students research and discuss the consequences of the Sedition Act. They illustrate the difficulty of balancing security needs and personal freedom using an example from John Adams's presidency.
All for KIDZ
Building Relationships: The Orphan of Ellis Island
Family and friendship are two very important themes of the historical fiction novel The Orphan of Ellis Island by Elvira Woodruff. From video clips and writing prompts to reader's theater and family interviews, this resource provides...
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The Poetry Archive
Listening to poems about feeling lonely and feeling like an outsider set the stage for a group activity that focuses on Stevie Smith's "Not Waving But Drowning." Groups examine the three stanzas of Smith's poem separately and identify in...
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Welcome Immigrants!
Students research immigration to find out why people from Europe, Asia, and elsewhere left their homelands during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Then they determine what living conditions were like when immigrants first settled...
Deliberating in a Democracy
Educating Non-Citizens
High schoolers distinguish between the privileges of being a U.S. Citizen and privileges that are forfeited if not a U.S. Citizen. For this history lesson, students analyze the rights of people in a democratic society through research,...
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An Immigrant's Journey
Students collect photos of immigrants coming to the United States. They write fictional journal entries for one of the photographs.
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My Name Is Osama
Young scholars read a short story about a young Iraqi boy, which opens up classroom discussion about the difficulties some immigrant students face, especially in the days after September 11.
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Immigration Debate
Students investigate the law recently passed in Arizona, "Support our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act."Â In this history lesson, students watch a video on immigration then work in small groups to prepare a debate on the pros...
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Family Ties
Students explore what life is like for immigrant women in the United States. In this immigration lesson, students study about immigration through reading and watching a video, then share their thoughts and ideas by participating in an...
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The Immigration Experience
Learners research the reasons people immigrated to the United States. In this United States history lesson, students explore the causes and effects of immigrating. Learners engage in a role-playing scenario , watch a video, and explore a...
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Immigration: Stories of Yesterday and Today
Students use Web technology to access immigration history and develop an understanding of the concept of immigration. Then they develop oral history writing skills, including note-taking and conducting an interview and read for detail....
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Ellis Island Tapestry
Students participate in a simulation activity. They explore Ellis Island and experiences that immigrants in the late 1800's had on their way to the United States. The role play includes questioning by inspectors, a manifest list, and...
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Destination America:
History comes alive for middle schoolers as they develop an immigrant persona and "become" immigrants who make the journey from Europe to the United States. Once on American soil, they experience the immigration process as they...
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Gateway to America
Fifth graders study about immigration, Ellis Island, and tenement life from 1890 to 1924. They create an identity of a fictitious immigrant and describe what they find when they arrive in New York.
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Trouble in the Fields: Mexican Migrant Workers
Students become curators and museum reviewers for an online gallery using a selected group of primary sources on Mexican migrant workers. They share and reflect on their own and each other's ideas though participation in an on-line...
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Classroom Guide for Coming to America
Learners discuss the pre-reading focus questions. In this reading lesson, students discuss and explore the book cover and title. Learners predict what they will learn from this book. Additionally, students read to find out what life is...
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New Movements For Social Justice: The Latino Struggle for Equal Rights
Students examine myths and stereotypes about Hispanic immigrant groups. They appreciate and share the strengths of their diversity and view films that challenge ideas about education and cultural values. They explore the Latino Rights...
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The Immigrants of Brooklyn: Now And Then
Students compare the immigrant population during the pre-Civil War era (1855) to that of today (2000 census data). They interpret circle and bar graphs comparing immigrant populations in Brooklyn yesterday and today, and create a class...
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Social Reformation-Irish Immigration in the 1800s
Students discuss the causes of the influx of Irish immigrants between 1800 and 1875. They focus on what immigrants' lives were like in the United States and what impact the move across the Atlantic had on thier families. They complete a...
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What was Behind the Golden Door?
Students adopt the persona of an immigrant child to explore the reasons underlying why families left their homelands. They empathize with the emotional plight of immigrants through creative composition.
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The Welcome Wagon
Students demonstrate an understanding of the immigrant experience in their state. In this immigrant lesson plan, students listen to immigrant speakers to their state and what their lives were like. Students write brief reports or...
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Seeing through Immigrants' Eyes
Students assume the perspective of an immigrant moving to Texas. They write a diary entry from an immigrant's perspective, describing how they arrived in their new town, what steps they take to get settled, and their feelings about their...
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European Immigrant Journey Museum
Second graders write a five sentence paragraph about what one special item / toy they would pack in the family trunk to take with them on their trip to the new world. They research family history finding names of parents and grandparents...