Curriculum
Materials
In
this jigsaw lesson,
inspired by the novel The
Tortilla Curtain, students assume the roles of economist,
sociologist, lawyer, immigration control expert and chair to
research immigration topics. Each group member writes a report
from the point of view of their role, and the chair summarizes
their findings in a letter to the governor. (Note: There are
many interesting links on this site, but they are not all up-to-date.)
“Why
Do People Move? Migration From Latin America” is
a unit created in 1993 by the Stanford Program on International
and Cross-Cultural Education (S.P.I.C.E.). It can be ordered
from their web site.
“When
Worlds Collide: Exploring the Impact of Immigrant Minorities
on American Society” is a lesson from the New York
Times Learning Network. First students read the article “The
Nation: Mexican-Americans; Forging a New Vision of America’s
Melting Pot.” Then “students explore the intersection
between immigration and America’s vision of itself. They
examine how immigrant groups view themselves as Americans,
and how the American ‘mainstream’ views these same
immigrant groups.”
In
this New York Times lesson,
students read the article “The
Desperate Risk Death in a Desert” and then “brainstorm
creative and imaginative solutions to economic and other problems
in Mexico and the United States to help stem the flow of perilous
border crossings. Students then use their ideas to formulate
a coherent plan to present to lawmakers.”
“Immigration
from Latin America and Caribbean” is a resource collection
on immigration created by staff at Harvard University.
“American
Immigration Past and Present: A Simulation Activity”:
This simulation challenges students to analyze U.S. immigration
policy by having them recommend different policies based on
different schools of thought.
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