Constitutional Rights Foundation
U.S. Immigration Policy and Hitler’s Holocaust
Though the Statue of Liberty welcomes political refugees to her shores, the welcoming sentiment has not always been reflected in the American citizenry. High schoolers read about the regrettable period in United States history when the...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Educating European Immigrant Children Before World War I
As if surviving a journey to America wasn't enough of a feat for early 20th century immigrants, they then needed to settle into American life. Learn about the ways New York public education attempted to meet the needs of its high...
Curated OER
Jews in America at the Time of Growth and Change: Forging New Frontiers
Tenth graders examine the role of Jewish Americans in the 1900s. They examing the changes in industry and inventions. They also identify how Jewish Americans changed society and religious organization.
Curated OER
Immigration to the Golden Land: Jewish Life in America
Young scholars examine waves of Jewish immigration during three time periods and analyze a variety of primary sources, including letters, memoirs, and laws, to gain insight into both the American immigrant experience and American society...
Curated OER
"Children of Loneliness": Understanding the Immigrant Experience
Students research and enhance the Jewish immigrant experience to that of contemporary immigrants to sustain a connection to their personal family stories. A story is shared with the class and then a discussion follows on the possible...
Curated OER
Becoming American: Immigration Experiences
Eleventh graders explore the process of becoming American. In this US History lesson, 11th graders examine the challenges that immigrants face in the United States. Students create a mini phrase book that would help immigrants...
Curated OER
Immigration to the Golden Land: Jewish Life in America
Students examine Jewish life in America. In this social studies instructional activity, students read the article "We Shall Go to America" which features the experiences of Jewish immigrants in America. Students respond to questions...
Curated OER
Turn of the Century Immigration
Students explore the immigration wave that hit the United States in 19th century. In this immigration lesson, students examine primary and secondary sources to determine what the immigration experience was like for new citizens. Students...
Curated OER
Women Immigrants in the Promised Land
Learners examine the experience of female immigrants as they arrive in the United States. They create a timeline of women's rights in the U.S., write journal entries, conduct Internet research and read online excerpts from "The Promised...
Curated OER
Investigation of Immigration
Students assume the role of a crime scene detective and examine the lives of various immigrant groups. In this immigration instructional activity, students examine evidence, websites, and pull from existing knowledge to determine which...
Curated OER
Understanding Tenement Life
Students look at life for immigrants in the 19th century. In this immigrant lesson, students discuss how the poor German, Irish, Italian, and Jewish immigrants lived in tenement housing. They research the reasons they came to America...
Curated OER
U.S. Immigration Policy and Hitler's Holocaust
Students read about immigration to the U.S. during the Holocaust. In this immigration lesson, students write answers to discussion questions. Students role play members of the 1951 U.N. conference and create guidelines for an...
Museum of Tolerance
Disenfranchised People of the New Nation
Why are some immigrant groups in the United States embraced while others become disenfranchised? To answer this question, teams investigate why groups emigrated to the US, why some of these these peoples were disenfranchised, and their...
Curated OER
Children of Loneliness: Immigration and Intergenerational Stories
Students evaluate Anzia Yezierska's story, "Children of Loneliness," in relation to Jewish immigrants coming to America. They discuss the connections in the story to their own coming to America and their roles as parents. After...
Curated OER
Jews and Blues
Young scholars examine how American Jews affect music and entertainment. They identify problems between immigrants and their children. They relate the Jewish American issue to those of African Americans.
Curated OER
Letters From Rifka
Small groups read assigned chapters from the book, Letters to Rifka, then work together to fill out comprehension worksheets associated with their chapters. This fine, 13-page instructional activity culminates with each group getting...
Curated OER
Pearl S. Buck: "On Discovering America"
Students describe myths and realities of immigration. In this "On Discovering America" lesson, students compare and contrast the American view of immigrants in the 1930s and how the media portrayed immigrants in the 1930s using examples...
Curated OER
Journey to America
High schoolers explain how life changed drastically for many families. They recognize the hardships involved in emigrating and immigrating and explain the concept of being a victim
Curated OER
19th Century Immigration.
Eleventh graders analyze primary source cartoons depicting discrimination against immigrants. They study the historical relationship Dominican Republic has had with the United States. They assess how this relationship is linked to...
Curated OER
The American Mosaic
Students discuss what it would be like to be new to a town. They are then asked questions related to the immigrants coming to America. Extensions of this lesson are available.
Curated OER
Pioneering Spirits: A Personalized History of Our Jewish Community
Students travel in groups to various stations to discover the history of the Jewish community. At each station, they read primary source documents about the history of their community and research their own family history. They mix...
Curated OER
Islam in America
Students examine the cultural and religious diversity within the United States. Using the differences, they discover they are a source of growth and change as well as conflict. They identify the changes that occur when new immigrants...
City University of New York
Dutch New York
What patterns appear in the treatment of Jewish and Quaker immigrations to New Netherland? Your class members will work together to read and discuss the religious restrictions placed on immigrants to Dutch New York.
Curated OER
Seeing Your Jewish Community Through Different Eyes
Students analyze a variety of journal entries to view Jewish communities through different eyes. The first one is by Faimonda Koplnitsky. She emigrated from Ukraine as a girl and published a book, called "No Words to Say Goodbye."