Center for History Education
Reshaping American Society: How did Immigration and Urbanization Affect America in the mid 1800s?
From the Know-Nothings to the Bible Riots, immigration and urbanization changed the face of America in the middle of the 1800s. Using documents that range from immigrant experiences to renderings of violent conflict between immigrants...
Curated OER
The Immigrant Experience In America
Students study immigration, Ellis Island, and tenement life from 1890 to 1924. Each student create an identity of an immigrant and write an essay in the first person. Essays describe what they found when they arrived in New York City.
Curated OER
Immigrant Photo Analysis
Students examine photographs taken of immigrants during late 1800s and early 1990s in America, and identify factors involved in immigration through examination of primary documents that include statistics, trends, graphs, photographs,...
Curated OER
Is Coming to the United States of America Good for the Immigrant?
Student discuss whether coming to the United States was good for certain groups of immigrants. Using the internet, they examine settlement patterns for immigrants over a period of time. In groups, they role play the role of a family...
Stanford University
Jacob Riis
Fourth graders view and discuss the photographs of Jacob Riis.In this Jacob Riis and Immigrants instructional activity, 4th graders analyze the photographs of Jacob Riis and answer questions about the feelings evoked by the photographs....
Curated OER
Home Ties
Students explore the reasons people choose to migrate including political, economic and familial motivations. They interview family members and compare their ancestors own reasons for migration to those of African American urban migrants.
Curated OER
Proud Pilgrim Hats
Students research authentic information about the clothing worn by urban European immigrants who came to live in the Wampanoag village of Patuxet (now Plymouth, Massachusetts) in 1620. They recognize the types of hats worn by men and...
Curated OER
The Second Great Migration
Students examine causes of The Second Great Migration and the impact it had on its destination communities.
Stanford University
Settlement House Movement SAC
Young scholars read and view a movie on Social Gospel and Settlement Houses. In this Social Reform lesson plan, students view the movie, read the passages and answer questions on the social reform movement of this time.
Curated OER
Boston's Arnold Arboretum
Students examine how 19th-century urban conditions influenced the development of parks. They research local trees and shrubs, develop a display of trees and shrubs, plan a new park or arboretum, and write a report on a local park.
Curated OER
The Great Migration: Two American Tales
Young scholars compare and contrast experiences of European immigrants and African American migrants in U.S. cities. After examining the topic, they write essays evaluating the differences and similarities of the groups' experiences.
Curated OER
Miners of the Prairie: The Days of Shaft Mining in Northern Illinois
Students explore the life and times of a coal miner in Illinois through the analysis of primary source documents and images.
Curated OER
Country Research
Sixth graders research a given country using teacher selected websites. They gather notes about their country in an organized manner. They then create a PowerPoint including a reference page displaying the information they gathered.
Curated OER
Lewis Hine
Middle schoolers define the term Industrialization. They use specific examples, discuss why and how industrialization grew during the early twentieth century in America. Students evaluate the contributions of technological advances,...
Curated OER
What is an American?
Students create a collage in groups that illustrates what it means to be an American. In this being American lesson plan, students compare different kinds of families and present their collage and describe what it means to be an American.
Curated OER
Parallel Studies of the Afro-American and Puerto Rican Experience in America
Pupils compare/contrast the Afro-American and Puerto Rican experience as they migrated and assimilated in the U.S. They research and discuss the reasons for migration and the historical significance of economic autonomy and oppression.
Curated OER
Brucemore Mansion
Students take a closer look at Brucemore Mansion. In this Iowa history lesson, students research what life was like at the mansion during the Gilded Age and through history. Students also research the responsibilities of servants as well...
Curated OER
A Twist On American Symbolism
Students discover how and why flag and national anthem of the United States were created, and in what ways they represent the foundation of our national identity.