Source: Point of View
Analyze an autobiographical text. Understand the importance of historical context, explore Cuba/U.S. relations and consider the experience of immigrants to the U.S.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies, The Arts
Topics: Film. Non-Fiction: Biography and Autobiography. Cultural Studies: Latino American/Chicano Studies. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Point of View
Consider the ideas of "cultural pluralism" and the "melting pot" while discussing to what extent immigrants today should integrate themselves into American society. Examine factors that cause people to move from one place to another.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Immigration. Sociology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Point of View
Explore the forces that influence human migration, particularly along the U.S./Mexican border. Investigate the life of an illegal Mexican immigrant after he arrives in the United States.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Cultural Studies: Latino American/Chicano Studies. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Ancestors In The Americas
Examine social, political and economic issues that influenced the first Asian migration to the Americas in the 18th and 19th centuries. Determine truthful, historically accurate facts about these people versus commonly held assumptions.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Cultural Studies: Asian American Studies. Immigration. United States History: 1870-1900.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Becoming American
Examine Chinese immigration to the United States and the Chinese-American culture in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Explore the complicated relationship between individual, ethnic and national identity.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Cultural Studies: Asian American Studies. Immigration. United States History: 1890-1930.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Point of View
Examine conflicting views regarding life and education for migrant families, and recognize the contributions of migrant farmworker families. Develop an appreciation for the impact on American culture of immigrant groups, their culture, and language.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Debate/Public Speaking. Cultural Studies: Latino American/Chicano Studies. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Point of View
Examine the role of day laborers in the economy of U.S. towns and cities and the issues facing and raised by current immigrants to the U.S. (primarily from Mexico). Examine and employ the steps of civic conflict resolution.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Health & Fitness, Social Studies
Topics: Conflict Resolution. Immigration. Sociology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Destination America
Explore issues such as persecution and fear that cause some people to leave their own countries and seek refuge in the United States. Participate in a mock trial that is part of the process of applying for asylum.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Immigration. Sociology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Destination America
Investigate foreign-born artists who came to America and the impact they had on American society as well as how immigration affected their art.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Immigration. Sociology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Destination America
Investigate the conditions and difficulties facing immigrants who sought religious freedom in the U.S. throughout history. Explore the issues facing members of one religious group and create a letter that might have been written by one of them.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Immigration. Religion.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NewsHour Extra
Explore the immigration issue of the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, and describe the Bush immigration initiative. Investigate the process of naturalization of immigrants, and try answering some of the questions asked on the Citizenship Examination.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Civics: United States Government. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NewsHour Extra
Learn about current legislation related to immigration reform, and create a role play that illustrates a specific point of view on immigration. Compose a letter to your Senator describing your views about immigration reform.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Civics: Current Events/Issues. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: KQED: My American Girls: A Dominican Story
Explore issues surrounding immigration, assimilation and maintenance of cultural identity. Discuss why people immigrate to another country and design an idealized version of an immigration center that provides support for newcomers.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Civics: United States Government. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Religion & Ethics Newsweekly
Identify, analyze and discuss controversial issues regarding immigration, and explore the issue of voting rights for legal immigrants. Research and stage a debate about solutions to immigration problems.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Civics: Civil and Human Rights. Immigration. Sociology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: KQED: My American Girls: A Dominican Story
Examine school, work and family conflicts in the lives of American and immigrant students. Role-play solutions to school conflicts based on a series of vignettes.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Health & Fitness, Social Studies
Topics: Conflict Resolution. Family Life. Anthropology/Cultures. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Art in the 21st Century
Investigate the effects of migration versus voluntary movement and how the process of relocation and dislocation can affect the emotional being of a person. Explore how contemporary artists represent their own global experiences in their work.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies, The Arts
Topics: Immigration. Visual Arts.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: KQED: My American Girls: A Dominican Story
Discuss contemporary immigrant life in the United States, create a talk show that addresses the themes and issues of the immigrant experience and conduct research on how Latinos are portrayed in the media.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Cultural Studies: Latino American/Chicano Studies. Immigration. Media Studies.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: They Made America
Consider why so many immigrants in the 19th century became American innovators, investigate ways various innovators weathered setbacks and hard times and describe the motives behind three innovators who affected the role of women.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Economics. Immigration. Womens Studies.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Point of View
Analyze data representing the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. from various regions of the world in a given year. Identify the challenges faced by refugees and various organizations that assist them.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Civics: Civil and Human Rights. Civics: Current Events/Issues. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Religion & Ethics Newsweekly
Examine connections between religion and immigration. Explore Muslim immigrant experiences in the United States and Europe.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Immigration. Sociology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOW
Examine the immigrant experience from an adolescent's point of view. Explore how the American Dream motivates students to succeed.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Immigration. Sociology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Independent Lens
Explore and discuss the financial factors that impede and propel immigrants' career achievements in America. Examine immigrant status in the U.S. labor force, and create mock federal policy to support immigrants' career mobility.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Careers. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Independent Lens
Examine and evaluate the contributions immigrants have made to the U.S. Research one of these immigrants and assess how knowledge of immigrant contributions influences one's own personal perspective.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Immigration. Sociology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Independent Lens
Consider the validity of statements often cited regarding immigration and immigrants. Research and debate the essence of one of the statments to support or negate presented perspectives, and then make an informed decision regarding each statement.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Ethics. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Independent Lens
Examine oral history sources relating to immigration to the U.S., and identify shared immigrant experiences. Learn how to conduct an oral history interview to gather first-hand stories about immigrant experiences.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Literature: American. Storytelling. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Independent Lens
Investigate personal perspectives regarding immigration to the U.S., the history of U.S. immigration policies and the circumstances that have influenced changes in the policies. Examine new legislation and debate current or proposed policies.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Civics: United States Government. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Independent Lens
Explore misconceptions about Latino immigrants, note their diversity and examine statistics that reflect their status in the U.S. Complete research and calculations, then represent activity findings in a chosen format.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Math, Social Studies
Topics: Data Analysis/Probability. Statistics. Cultural Studies: Latino American/Chicano Studies. Geography. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Independent Lens
Recognize ways immigrant cultures are adapted to American culture, and define ways American culture adopts elements of other cultures. Explore one's own family culture and immigrant origins.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Immigration. Sociology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Independent Lens
Examine conditions that force refugees to come to the U.S., and research and discuss facts regarding American refugees. Describe the refugee experience of one Nigerian based on the actual story of the exodus from her country.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Civics: United States Government. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Independent Lens
Discover life as an immigrant in America in the late 19th or early 20th century. Study immigration facts, research what life was like for an immigrant at this time and role-play a fictitious immigrant family member.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Immigration. United States History: 1890-1930.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Independent Lens
Analyze U.S. Census data regarding immigrant demographics, and compare and contrast data to find changes over time. Apply mathematical skills to arrive at conclusions regarding historic and current trends and patterns.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Math, Social Studies
Topics: Data Analysis/Probability. Statistics. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Independent Lens
Experience school life as an outsider by listening to a lesson in a second language and reflecting on emotions felt. Analyze a poem about immigration, and learn to empathize with new immigrants who encounter alienation.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Health & Fitness, Social Studies
Topics: Mental/Emotional Health. Social Skills. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Freedom: A History of US
Examine the anti-immigrant sentiment and prejudice that led in 1882 to the Chinese Exclusion Act. Discuss the growth of such anti-immigrant organizations as the the Know-Nothing Party, the Ku Klux Klan and the Workingmen's Party.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Immigration. United States History: 1870-1900.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOW
Analyze historical documents on religious freedom, and assess the historic impact of diverse religious groups in the U.S. Examine current "separation of church and state" issues, and decide if diverse religious groups in the U.S. pose a threat.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Topics: Civics: United States Government. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Explore the links among population growth, immigration, environment and support of the elderly in America. Conduct a role play and explore the options available to tackle problems caused by deomgraphic trends.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech, Social Studies
Topics: Ecology. Geography. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
