Guiding Activity 1: Amy Bluhm Big Idea: Cultural Diversity Essential Question: How do our differences help us become more alike? Challenge: Increase cultural awareness in the classroom and community
Activity 1 Guiding Questions: 1.What is an immigrant? 2.What are some reasons that people chose to immigrate to the United States? 3.What is Ellis Island? 4.Why do we refer the United States as a "melting pot" or a "salad bowl?" 5. Where can we trace own roots back to?
Materials: Promethean Board Computer Projector Internet Access Paper Pencils Markers KWL Chart
2.What are some reasons that people chose to immigrate to the United States? View the following video clip, The Pursuit of Happiness.
After completing 1 and 2, discuss as a class what would make someone want to become an immigrant. Students will be asked to think of possible advantages and disadvantages to this choice.
3. What is Ellis Island? Take an interactive virtual tour of Ellis Island. Students will take an interactive tour of Ellis Island. First, they will have to fill out a KWL chart about Ellis Island, expressing what they know and what they want to find out. Next, they will be given a sheet that has a list of the rooms and descriptions of the rooms. As they go through the tour, the students are to match the room with it's description. After the tour is finished, the students are to fill out the third column of the KWL chart, stating what they learned.
4.Why do we refer the United States as a "melting pot" or a "salad bowl?" View the following video clip, Immigration. Have students break into small groups. Within their groups, each student is to think of 5 unique things about themselves. The group will create a "salad bowl" visual to show the different parts of themselves that they bring together to make up the group. Each student will choose a different part of the salad to write their answers in. (For example, The leaves of lettuce can be where one student writes, tomatoes can be another, croutons, etc.) Explain to students that each ingredient is unique, but the entire salad isn't complete without them.
5. Where can we trace own roots back to? Students are to go home and interview members of their family about their background. They will make a list of different cultures and traditions they learn from the information they gain. Each student will be given a square where they can use words and pictures to represent what they learned about themselves and their family. The squares will be put together to form a class quilt.
Assessment: After having the opportunity to learn about immigration and Elllis Island, students will be able to use iPiccy to create an immigrant picture. They will be using the program to edit a picture of themselves to look older. Students will be taking on the role of an immigrant, sending a letter back to someone in their home country. They will write to describe their journey and their experience at Ellis Island, stating the reasons that they chose to come to America and what they hope to accomplish.
Coming to America
Guiding Activity 1: Amy Bluhm
Big Idea: Cultural Diversity
Essential Question: How do our differences help us become more alike?
Challenge: Increase cultural awareness in the classroom and community
Activity 1 Guiding Questions:
1. What is an immigrant?
2. What are some reasons that people chose to immigrate to the United States?
3. What is Ellis Island?
4. Why do we refer the United States as a "melting pot" or a "salad bowl?"
5. Where can we trace own roots back to?
Materials:
Promethean Board
Computer
Projector
Internet Access
Paper
Pencils
Markers
KWL Chart
Procedures:
1. What is an immigrant?
View the following video clip, Reasons for Immigration.
2. What are some reasons that people chose to immigrate to the United States?
View the following video clip, The Pursuit of Happiness.
After completing 1 and 2, discuss as a class what would make someone want to become an immigrant. Students will be asked to think of possible advantages and disadvantages to this choice.
3. What is Ellis Island?
Take an interactive virtual tour of Ellis Island.
Students will take an interactive tour of Ellis Island. First, they will have to fill out a KWL chart about Ellis Island, expressing what they know and what they want to find out. Next, they will be given a sheet that has a list of the rooms and descriptions of the rooms. As they go through the tour, the students are to match the room with it's description. After the tour is finished, the students are to fill out the third column of the KWL chart, stating what they learned.
4. Why do we refer the United States as a "melting pot" or a "salad bowl?"
View the following video clip, Immigration.
Have students break into small groups. Within their groups, each student is to think of 5 unique things about themselves. The group will create a "salad bowl" visual to show the different parts of themselves that they bring together to make up the group. Each student will choose a different part of the salad to write their answers in. (For example, The leaves of lettuce can be where one student writes, tomatoes can be another, croutons, etc.) Explain to students that each ingredient is unique, but the entire salad isn't complete without them.
5. Where can we trace own roots back to?
Students are to go home and interview members of their family about their background. They will make a list of different cultures and traditions they learn from the information they gain. Each student will be given a square where they can use words and pictures to represent what they learned about themselves and their family. The squares will be put together to form a class quilt.
Culmination:
As a class, the students and teacher can take a virtual field trip to Ellis Island.
Assessment:
After having the opportunity to learn about immigration and Elllis Island, students will be able to use iPiccy to create an immigrant picture. They will be using the program to edit a picture of themselves to look older. Students will be taking on the role of an immigrant, sending a letter back to someone in their home country. They will write to describe their journey and their experience at Ellis Island, stating the reasons that they chose to come to America and what they hope to accomplish.