Curated OER
Rights of Non-Citizen Immigrants
Students continue their discussion of if coming to America was the best thing for a group of immigrants. As a class, they complete the citizenship test offered by the INS. They research the benefits and responsibilities of being a...
Curated OER
Finding and Collecting in the Field
Students examine the types of plants brought over to America from immigrants. They research how some of these types of plants cause damage and alter the landscape. They record data and share the information with the community.
Curated OER
Chinatowns and Chinese Communities in America
Eleventh graders recognize that Chinatown, as an example, can depict how ethnic groups in general are developed.
Smithsonian Institution
A Dream Deferred: DACA
"Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses" has even more meaning for some children. The resource explores the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Scholars analyze primary sources and participate in...
Theodore Roosevelt Association
Interpreting the Past; Assessing Its Impact on the Present
Even though the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt ended over 100 years ago, we can still learn something from his stances and policies that is applicable today. Class members first look over a list of prevalent political issues from the...
DocsTeach
U.S. Policy and the Holocaust Refugee Crisis
How did the United States respond to the Holocaust refugee crisis during World War II? The activity focuses on the United States' foreign policies and the arguments for and against offering assistance. Scholars analyze historical...
DocsTeach
The SS Quanza and European War Refugees
World War II not only resulted in major loss of life, but it also displaced thousands of people. An eye-opening activity uses primary documents to explore the refugee crisis during World War II. Scholars compare the event to modern-day...
The New York Times
Looking for Answers: Making Sense of the Boston Marathon Bombing
How should America respond to acts of domestic terrorism? What motivates or prompts a terrorist attack? After reading an opinion piece on the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, your learners will critically analyze factors that could have...
Annenberg Foundation
Contested Territories
United States expansion into Western territories impacted much more than just lines on a map. The seventh installment of a 22-part series about America's history puts scholars into the lives of those making the journey westward as well...
Oklahoma State Department of Education
Narrative Prompt
Reading about history is nothing like experiencing it firsthand. Encourage your eighth graders to do the next best thing with a historical narrative prompt, in which they describe the experience of a first-time traveler on the...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Upton Sinclair, Theodore Roosevelt, and Harvey W. Wiley
Though Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle shocked the American public into a thorough examination of the meat-packing industry, the author was disappointed that his book's main argument—the exploitation of American immigrants—was not...
Vanderbilt University
Stories from the Panama Canal
The stories of the Silver People, the West Indies immigrants hired to work on the Panama Canal, come to life in a instructional activity about the building of the Panama Canal. Groups research why the canal was built, how it was build,...
Reading Through History
Patriots and Loyalists
Patriots versus Loyalists, a huge divide during the Revolutionary War in what would become the United States of America. An informative resource includes both direct instruction about the two groups and a quiz pupils take after reading...
Curated OER
Reporting on the 1920s
Use this roaring 1920s history instructional activity to have young writers research primary and secondary sources. They use their research to examine the events or famous public figures of the time period. Next, they imagine they're in...
Curated OER
A Nation of Immigrants
Students analyze the speech that Barack Obama delivered titled "A More Perfect Union." In this race relations lesson, students collaborate in heterogeneous groups to analyze the text of the Obama speech and discuss its implications....
Curated OER
Puerto Rican Migration Historical Fiction Story
Students investigate the experience of Puerto Rican immigrants to America. In this immigration lesson, students research the challenges that Puerto Rican immigrants faced and then write historical fiction selections that reflect their...
Curated OER
U.S. Immigration Policy
Students are introduced to the immigration policy of the United States. Using the Internet, they identify major trends in immigration patterns, noting the origins and numbers of immigrants. They analyze the reasons why people came to...
Curated OER
American Migrations Timeline
In order to answer the question of whether the United States is a country of migrants or immigrants, students compile a list of migrations in America. From this list they conduct individual research for a particular episode of migration...
Curated OER
History of the American Family
Students discover the history of the American family and the affects of immigration. In addition, they examine the contributions of minority families to American culture. In groups, students explore the pros and cons of dual-income...
Curated OER
Japaneses Internment: Lesson 1 of 4: Chronological Events Leading to Internment
Students examine facts about history of the Asians experience in America and identify patterns of Asian immigration in the United States. Students develop reasons specific Asian ethnic groups migrated to the United States and predict...
Curated OER
Pacific Northwest History - Immigration
Young scholars list the immigrant groups that migrated west, explain why they came and what they did upon arrival. They explain the importance of geography on the development of the Pacific Northwest and research the modes of travel they...
Curated OER
Introduction to a Unit on the 1930's Depression in America
Students view and discuss photographic images of the Dust Bowl by Dorothea Lange. They discuss who Dorothea Lange was and why she took the pictures, the conservational factors that contributed to the Dust Bowl and migrant workers and the...
Curated OER
Current Contexts
Young scholars examine how they are affected by world affairs. After reading an article, they examine Otto Frank's attempts to immigrate to America. Using the New York Times, they identify examples of news, advertisements and...
Curated OER
The American Mosaic
Students discuss what it would be like to be new to a town. They are then asked questions related to the immigrants coming to America. Extensions of this lesson are available.