Smithsonian Institution
Affirmation, Assimilation, and Acculturation: Middle School
Latin American culture is deeply embedded in American culture as a whole. From the Latin rock scene in San Francisco to the hip-hop world of New York, Latin American artists have influenced every genre of modern music. Learn about the...
Curated OER
New York on the Pacific Coast
Students explore the interaction and consequences of contact among different ethnic groups. Students examine a timeline and the important historical
events in American History. They discuss immigration and migration.
Curated OER
Immigration Unit
Third graders develop an appreciate for the various cultures that are present in their local community. Through reading and research, they explain how various culture came to live in their area. At the conclusion of the unit, 3rd...
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Primary Sources by and about Mexicans and Californios
Learners access many pages of unique and interesting people of Mexican/Californios decent/heritage. After reading an insert on one, they can future research that person on the Internet. Students share their findings on a power point...
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Cinco De Mayo
High schoolers make a graph identifying the immigration of Mexicans to the US. For this algebra lesson, students practice graphing as they review different trends in immigration over the past 100 years. They interpret and analyze their...
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The Story of a Bracero
Learners study a first person account written by a migrant worker from Mexico. They write a reaction to it. They discuss immigration to the US and how it effects labor patterns.
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Migration and the Spirits of Life
Students study the Mexican traditions for the Day of the Dead. In this Mexican traditions lesson, students study monarch butterflies and learn about the role that the mariposa plays in the Day of the Dead. Students learn about migration,...
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Literature: Esperanza Rising
Young scholars read and discuss the book, Esperanza Rising. After analyzing and identifying the novel's structural elements, they examine working conditions for migrant workers in the 1930s. As part of the lesson, students in groups...
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Home at Last
Learners read about an immigrant family and participate in reading activities related to the book. In this immigration book lesson, students answer question related to immigration and the book.
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What is Migration
Students conduct individual research and participate in discussion be able to identify difference between forced and voluntary migration. They identify if push and pull factors are caused by political, social, economic, or environmental...
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Grappling with Identity in Latino Poetry
Students identify some common themes involving the Latino immigrant experience as conveyed through a variety of media, explore issues of identity in some examples of poetry written by Latinos and learn some basic poetry reading strategies.
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The Revolt of Juan "Cheno" Cortina
Tenth graders examine the social and cultural impact of immigrant groups and the oppression of ethnic minorities with a focus on the role of Juan Cortina in Mexico. In small groups they discuss what a revolutionary is, read and discuss...
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A Bracero Compares Expectations versus Reality of Life in the United States
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students analyze an interview with a bracero who describes the expectations and realities of life in the United States. Students respond to 3 short answer questions based on the...
NPR
The History of America’s Weed Laws
To understand the laws regarding marijuana use in the United States, you can go all the way back to the 1800's to learn about farming hemp, or you can go back to 2018 when California became the sixth state to legalize recreational...
Curated OER
Cuisine Art
Students explore the history of the foods of different ethnic groups and the significance of these foods in perpetuating culture.
Annenberg Foundation
Masculine Heroes
What were the driving forces behind American expansion in the nineteenth century, and what were its effects? Scholars watch a video, read biographies, engage in discussion, write journals and poetry, draw, and create a multimedia...
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Worksheet: The Great Depression
In this Great Depression worksheet, high schoolers respond to 8 short answer questions about the migration during the era, Hoovervilles, and the impact of movies.
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Which Article? (Part 3)
Use this worksheet to have learners fill in thirteen blanks in a descriptive paragraph with the grammatically correct articles for each one.
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Reporting on the 1920s
Use this roaring 1920s history lesson 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 the 1920s and...
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People on the Move
Students explore transportation. In this transportation lesson, students examine the Jupiter locomotive, Washingtion D.C. streetcars, the Leviathan, the Salisbury Train Station, and Route 66. Students respond to 12 questions.
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Traveling Through Time, Wetland Style
Students create a timeline on the development of the Pajaro Valley Area. In this social science lesson, students discuss the changes that took place in the area over the past 300 years. They draw a pictures of how the area has changed...
Curated OER
Island of the Blue Dolphins Jigsaw
Fourth graders research three topics from the book, either Village Life, Sea Life, or San Nicholas Island. They research independently and meet in a jigsaw format to share what they learned. As group they create a poster for class...
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Children in the Fields
Fourth graders research Hispanic child labor in California's agricultural period. They create dioramas reflecting the lives of migrant farm workers and political cartoons as produce crate labels, They illustrate farm scenes and hold a...
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The Wild, Wild West, or Was It?
Fifth graders explore the American West. In this Westward Expansion lesson plan, 5th graders examine the opportunities that the West offered American pioneers. Students watch a montage video and analyze primary documents regarding...