Grades 4-8

Group Limit: one classroom
Length: Live, interactive 1-hour program
Cost: $100 per program, discounts available for Priority School Districts and Title I Schools. Thank you to the Henry Nias Foundation and other generous sponsors.

To Schedule: email [email protected] or call (860) 236-5621 ext. 232

What was it like to immigrate to the United States in order to chase the American dream? Students will explore the stories of 19th and early 20th century immigrants through the documents and photographs they left behind. Topics investigated will include employment, housing, education, and culture. As students uncover the opportunities and challenges faced by immigrants and their families, they will collaborate to determine whether or not the U.S. was indeed the “land of opportunity” that so many new Americans hoped it would be.  

Students will be able to:

1.      Identify push factors that influence immigration. (CT HIST 8.9; ECO 4.2, 5.1, 8.1; GEO 4.6, 4.8, 5.3, 8.3; CCSS ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1-3, 5.1-3; RH.6-8.1-4, 6-8.7)

2.      Examine multiple perspectives to evaluate the challenges new immigrants faced related to employment, housing and discrimination. (CT HIST 4.1, 5.4-5, 8.1-2, 8.6-8.8; GEO 4.3; CCSS ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1, 5.1; SL.4.1-3, 5.1-3; RH.6-8.1-4, 6-8.7)

3.      Analyze a variety of visual, written, and audio primary and secondary material to form an opinion about whether America was a land of opportunity for new immigrants in the 19^th century. (CT ECO 4.1, 5.6, 8.3, 8.6-8.8; GEO 4.7; CCSS ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1-3, 5.1-3; RH.6-8.1-4, 6-8.7)

This project has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.