Teaching American History Lesson Plan Template

Title: Immigration Web Quest Teacher's Name: Bakewell, Jill,
Teacher's E-mail: Date:
Lesson Title Immigration Web Quest
School:
Both Schools

Attachments
Word Documents: Immigration Card Handout
NE Standards
Overview/Introduction
Students will assume the role of an immigrant from one of the following locations: Africa, Germany, Ireland, Scandinavian Countries, Italy, Japanese, Mexico, China, Puerto Rico/ Cuba, Poland/Russia. Using the American Memory website to investigate the story of their assumed role.
Grade Level
9-12 Grades
Established Goals (Learning Objectives)
Students will: 1. gain a better understanding why various immigrant groups came to the United States. 2. read about immigrants life once they settle in the United States. 3. understand governmental policies that helped with assimilation. 4. read actual immigrant interviews and share them with the class.
Duration
2-3 days
Understandings (Background Knowledge)
The basic concept the United States is a land of immigrants. During the 1880s a shift occurred in the origins of America’s immigrants. Shifting from the arrival of northern and western European immigrants to immigrants from eastern and southern Europe.
Materials
• Computers • Immigration Card Handout
Essential Questions (Engaging Questions)
1. Why do immigrants leave their home country? 2. Why did many immigrants chose the United States for their new home? 3. How were the immigrants received by Americans? 4. How did the immigrants create new lives for themselves?
Primary Sources
Learning Activities (Procedure)
Day 1 Activity One: As a large class brainstorm reasons why immigrants leave their home country. Activity Two: Pass out Immigration Card Handout and go over instructions with them. Assign an ethnic group to each student. Activity three: Do a class navigation of the American Memory Immigration Web Site. Activity Four: Students have independent work time to complete their handouts. Day 2 Activity One: As a large class share findings from each ethnic group. Activity Two: Identify any trends, similarities, and differences between the groups. Activity Three: Share interviews with the class.
Technology Links
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/immig/introduction.html
Differentiated Instructional Strategies (Learning Advice)
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/immig/introduction.html
Assessment Evidence / Performance Tasks
Immigration Card Handout Class Discussion