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Summary and Objective
GOAL: Students will understand that the popular views of immigrants to the Pioneer Valley changed over time and will consider what might have contributed to these changes. Students will read and analyze several primary documents. Students will identify phrases that may have communicated public opinion. Students will consider cause and effect situations surrounding the newspaper articles.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
PRE-ACTIVITY: Students will read a variety of fiction and non-fiction on the topic of immigration. Suggested titles: "I Was Dreaming to Come to America: Memories from the Ellis Island Oral History Project" by Ellis Island Oral History Project, Veronica Lawlor; "Annushka's Voyage"
By: Edith Tarbescu; "A Picnic in October" by Eve Bunting; "My America : Home At Last, Sofia's Ellis Island Diary, Book Two (My America)" by Kathryn Lasky; "A Day's Work" by Eve Bunting; "If Your Name Was Changed At Ellis Island" by Ellen Levine; "The Story of the Statue of Liberty" by Betsy Maestro; "Immigrant Kids" by Russell Freedman; "The Memory Coat" by Elvira Woodruff; Discussion will focus on the life experiences of the characters, individuals. Summarize by discussing the different genres of the books (fiction, historical fiction, etc.). Preparation for teaching: copies of all documents for display in the classroom; In-Focus digital presentation setup or make transparencies of the digital items for overhead projector. If necessary for individuals in the class, have copies on hand for viewing at desks. Have chart paper and markers ready.
Step 2.
Introduce the various articles from the digital collection in chronological order, noting the dates and sources. Stress that they are primary sources, written at the time of the period we are studying. *It may be necessary to supplement this collection with primary items to represent immigrant group predominant in your local area.
Step 3.
Read the articles with students, asking students to identify phrases that give evidence of the attitudes felt toward immigration/immigrants. On chart paper identify each article with Title, date, relevant phrases, and attitude(s).
Step 4.
As a class, summarize the flow or changing of the attitudes over time and preparing for the exploration of why these attitudes change over time.
Step 5.
Organize students into cooperative groups with one person identified as the scribe. Have students consider the notes made during the earlier discussion. Given a suggested model for charting 'Cause & Effect', students should identify what they think may have caused the attitude.
Step 6.
Students come back to discuss their findings with the whole class.
Step 7.
Finally, a discussion about the possible effects of the public reading the newspapers: could any of the articles have influenced residents? Guide students to see that opinion documented in the media may affect public opinion, and that reading critically is important.
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