Lesson Plans

We Are Americans: Voices of the Immigrant Experience

We Are Americans: Voices of the Immigrant Experience seeks to teach students about the history of immigration through the voices and experiences of the immigrants.

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Immigrants & Community

Immigrants & Community teaches middle grade students through literacy-based activities about various types of community and about how immigrants contribute to the communities of which they are a part.

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Immigration to the United States

Immigration to the United States allows students to use their communication skills in writing, speaking, and illustrating as they discover their families' heritage and appreciate the impact immigration has had on their lives.

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Miss Bridie Chose A Shovel

Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel teaches primary students the value of immigration through the contributions of immigrants to American society through reading, listening, writing and art projects.

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Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say

Grandfather's Journey explores themes of cross cultural experience as well as intergenerational relationships and family history. The award-winning illustrations convey Say's love of family, as well as his love of place. Through a series of reading, writing and reflection activities, students will explore this cross cultural theme and develop a deeper understanding of why immigrants come to the United States.

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Heritage Boxes

Creating Heritage Boxes will allow students to obtain a cross-curricular knowledge using relevant literature and information obtained through family member interviews. Students will understand the value of becoming familiar with their heritage and culture through the research of an ancestor. (NOTE: This is a project-based learning activity that requires several months and the support of families and the school community to implement. The interconnected activities will foster an overall understanding and appreciation for the diversity in your school and our nation.)

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Honoring Immigrants - Place Setting Project

Students will explore an immigrant's journey into the United States and honor his/her accomplishments by interviewing an immigrant, creating decorative placemats and inviting him/her to a banquet to celebrate.

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Illustrious Immigrants

Students will develop an appreciation of the varied social, cultural, economic, artistic, and political contributions made by immigrants through a research and technological process that culminates in the production of an iMovie.

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Our Melting Pot: Meeting, Eating and Growing Together

The goal of Our Melting Pot is to develop knowledge and appreciation of the diversity of nations from which our students' ancestors came. By creating his/her own Immigration cookbook, students will appreciate their ancestry and learn about how certain foods are incorporated in to life in the United States.

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Marianthe's Story - Painted Words, Spoken Memories

Students will appreciate the immigration experience through Aliki's Marianthe's Story: Painted Words, Spoken Memories. Through a guided reading and various classroom activities, students will identify with Mari's character as well as improve on reading, geography, art and expressive writing skills.

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