Grade Level:
Grade 5 U.S. History & Geography: Making a New Nation
Unit 8 Immigration

Standards

H/SS Standards Grade 5:

• Students examine the contributions of the different groups that built the American Nation. Students will identify the successive waves of new immigration, understand their attraction to America, and study the importance of Ellis Island. Students will reflect on the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty and read the poem, "The New Colossus".
  

Language Arts Standards Grade 5

• Listening and Speaking: Standard 1: Students deliver focused, coherent presentations that covers ideas clearly and relates to the background and interests of the audience. They evaluate the content of oral communication.
• Written and Oral Language: Standard 1: Students write and speak with a command of standard English that is appropriate at each grade level.
• Writing: Standard 1: Students write clear, coherent, and focused essays. Students exhibit awareness of audience and purpose.

Information Literacy Skills:

• Students will collect, analyze, and evaluate sources.
• Students will compare information collected.
• Students will summarize information, organize information, and present in their own words.

Lesson Purpose

Gather information on the main ethnic groups that came to the United States in the big waves of immigration. Research the port of entry, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Produce a presentation of information and concepts gathered.

Goals:

• Experience using the Internet as an important research tool.
• Appreciate the use of role-playing as an effective learning tool.
• Gain an understanding of why immigrants came to America.
• Identify patterns of immigration throughout America's history.
• Explain procedures immigrants followed at Ellis Island.
• Recognize the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty in the immigrant experience

Length of Lesson: Approximately 2 weeks

• One period for knowledge chart and overview.
• Three 45 minute periods for research.
• Three 45 minute periods for play preparation.
• One-two hours for play presentations.

Supplemental Resources and Materials:

Nonfiction

Smith A.G., Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Coloring Book, Dover Publications, 1985
Smaridge Norah, The Tallest Lady in the World, Weekly Reader Books, 1986
Perl Lila, The Great Ancestor Hunt, Clarion, 1989
Freedman Russell, Immigrant Kids, Scholastic Inc.

 Fiction

Bunting Eve, How Many Days to America?, New York: Ticknor and Fields, 1988
Cohen, Barbara. Gooseberries to Oranges, New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1982
Cohen, Barbara. Molly's Pilgrim, New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1983
Lord, Bette Bao. In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, New York: Harper & Row, 1984
Talbot, Charlene Joy, An Orphan for Nebraska, New York: Atheneum, 1979