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 printer-friendly version Learning Objectives Lesson Plans
FilmWebsiteAuthor
Welcome to the THE CITY lesson plans. These lessons will provide an opportunity for students and teachers to discuss immigration issues in an enriching and sensitive way. We strongly suggest that teachers watch the film in its entirety so that they can choose which segments they want to show in class (or if they want to show the entire film). The lessons are designed for students in grades 6-12 for use in the following subject areas: English/Language Arts, Social Studies, Multicultural Studies and Visual/Performing Arts. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Students will be able to:
LESSON PLANS Overview and Complete Lesson Plans LESSON ONE - Family Histories Introduction to the THE CITY film and issues that affect immigrants' lives. Students will have an opportunity to think about their own families' immigration history and make analogies to the experience of the immigrants depicted on the film. LESSON TWO - What Makes a Nation? A discussion on the meaning of the words "migration" and "immigration," with a follow up discussion on the migration/immigration experience of different groups who are part of American society. LESSON THREE - Immigrants: Myth v. Reality This lesson will provide an opportunity for students to discuss immigrant stereotypes and discuss perception versus reality. The words "stereotype" and "xenophobia" will be introduced. LESSON FOUR - Immigrant Images Discussion on the creative choices made by the THE CITY director and the impact they have on the film. Review Vittorio de Sica's BICYCLE THIEF as a model for neo-realism and black-and-white filmmaking in comparison with THE CITY. Students will revisit the exercise they did on LESSON TWO and discuss if/how the film has affected their viewpoints. THE FILM Filmed over the course of several years using nonprofessional actors - actual immigrants from places including Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica - THE CITY offers an unprecedented look at the daily lives of the millions of recent immigrants who are virtually ignored in American society. The film, in Spanish with English subtitles, has four separate stories, each with a general theme: Bricks tells the story of day laborers and their daily struggle to survive. It portrays one of the most exploited groups of immigrants and can be a great opportunity for discussing why some people must subject themselves to such harrowing working conditions. Length: 24 minutes. The Puppeteer tells the story of a homeless father and daughter. The father is unable to enroll the daughter in school because they lack an address and the necessary documents. Students can discuss the many hardships that come with having no home. Length: 15 minutes. Home is about two young people from the same Mexican village who meet and fall in love, only to lose each other in the immensity of the city. This segment can lead to a discussion on the alienation and cultural shock one experiences when arriving in a new land. Length: 22 minutes. Seamstress portrays a group of garment factory workers, mostly women, who have not been paid for a month. When one of the seamstresses needs to send money back home for a sick daughter, the factory owners refuse to pay her. This story gives students an opportunity to discuss the special difficulties faced by women immigrants, as well as the power of "sticking together." Length: 22 minutes. THE WEBSITE THE CITY website presents detailed information about the film, including story synopses and an interview with David Riker about the making of THE CITY. The website also expands on some of the issues addressed in THE CITY. It explores common myths about immigration, workers' rights issues, barriers facing immigrant children in the U.S. education system and how immigration affects women and families. THE AUTHOR Ayla Tiago has 10 years of experience working with adult learning and educational outreach in public television. As director of literacy projects at New York's WNET, she founded that station's Literacy Center and managed its thriving adult education outreach project. Ayla is now manager of adult learning at KQED, San Francisco's public television and radio station. |
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