Meet the Immigrants

 

Original Author: Donna Roberson

Original WebQuest URL: http://www.lubbock.k12.tx.us/Webquests/MeetImmigrants/index.htm

Modified By: Debbie Kuykendall

Modified Date: April 20, 2004

 

Introduction  Task   Process   Evaluation   Conclusion   Teacher Page

 

 

Introduction

 

 

Can you imagine how it would be to move to a new country? 
How would it feel? 
Will the people treat you unkindly when you arrive? 
Will you be able to take everything you want from your old place to your new place? 
What will you eat along the way? 
Where will you stay? 
What if you have trouble or get sick along the way? 
What if no one understands you when you talk?

Now, imagine you are an immigrant to the United States, and there are unfriendly people where you are going, maybe there aren't even highways, you don't speak the same language, and you can only take along some food and one of two of your favorite possessions. You are going to become one of these immigrants, and you will tell your story as a participant in a panel discussion on a simulated television program. We are interested in hearing about your experiences and learning what it was like to be a stranger in a foreign land.

 

The Task

As experts on the people who helped to settle the United States, your group has been asked to appear on a television program. You will appear in a panel discussion on a television program entitled, Meet the Immigrants. Each of you will appear as one of the following:

The producers of the program would like you to dress in an authentic costume to add flavor.

You will be asked to discuss the problems and joys of moving into new territory, what items you were able to carry, hardships encountered, health problems, reasons for going, how you were received by the people who were there, and your opinions about the problems people today might encounter when they move into a new country.

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction   Task   Process   Evaluation   Conclusion   Teacher Page

 

The Process

Teachers, be sure to look at the Teachers Process pages for vital information.

You will be assigned to a group of four students.

 

You will either choose a role to play or your teacher will assign one to you from this list:

 

Role

Resources

 

Oregon Trail Pioneer---one of a half million people who traveled the trail between 1843 and 1869 in order to "Go West!"

New Mexico Settler---one of several hundred priests, noblemen, servants, or family members who came in the 1600s to colonize the area for Spain.

Chinese Worker---one of the millions of immigrants who came to the United States to work in minimum wage jobs during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Pilgrim---an early settler to the North American continent who from Europe.

 

Use the resources provided to research your role, and your Travel Journal to record your findings.

 

Once you have collected and recorded all the information in your Travel Journal, you will meet with members of other groups who have the same role as you, and you can compare information to be sure everyone has the necessary facts.

 

Play a game to check your understanding of the early immigrants.  

 

Working with your teacher, you will design a Power Point presentation with the members of your group.   

 

You will present your Power Point presentation to the class to demonstrate your knowledge as well as teach them about your role.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluation

 

Beginning

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Exemplary

4

Score

 

Travel Journal Entries

 

Travel Journal partially completed with only one or two facts to support assigned role.

Travel Journal partially completed with a few facts to support assigned role.

Travel Journal partially completed with some facts to support assigned role.

Travel Journal completed with many facts to support assigned role.

 

 

Power Point

 

 

No Power Point presentation

Power Point not complete, or is inaccurate.

Power Point almost complete with no inaccuracies.

Power Point accurately covers the material.

 

 

Participation in Power Point Presentation

 

Does not participate in the discussion or does not know answers to topics presented.

Minimum of participation in the discussion, or states facts inaccurately.

Participates in the discussion with some prompting, with several accurate facts.

Eagerly participates in the discussion with many accurate facts.

 

 

Games

 

Only gets three or fewer answers correct.

Misses several questions.

Answers all but one or two questions correctly.

Answers all questions correctly.

 

 

Group Participation

Cannot stay on task without teacher reminder; a source of conflict within the group.

Stays on task most of the time, but has trouble working with the group.

Stays on task, works well in the group, only requiring teacher assistance in resolving conflicts once or twice.

Works congenially with classmates, assisting others when necessary, and resolving any conflicts

 

Introduction   Task   Process   Evaluation   Conclusion   Teacher Page

 

Conclusion

 

 

 

  

      

Now you have learned about the excitement and problems that the immigrants experienced as they came to new lands, and you have told their story. You have more than likely come to realize that the United States has a history of offering opportunity to those who are willing to work hard. 

As you become more aware, you will see that there are still many people who come as immigrants today. Try to identify similarities in the situations they faced and the situations modern day immigrants might encounter.

If you find yourself moving to a new place, and you are facing discouraging moments, be of good cheer and remember that if those before you were able to overcome such difficulties, you surely can.

Introduction   Task   Process   Evaluation   Conclusion   Teacher Page

 

Teacher Page

 

 

 

A WebQuest for 5th Grade Social Studies

Designed by

Donna Roberson

droberson@lubbock.k12.tx.us

 Last updated on December 1, 2001. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page

Permission Statement

 

We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original author's name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this WebQuest. On the line after the original author's name, you may add Modified by (your name) on (date). If you do modify it, please let me know and provide the new URL.

 

Original Author:  Donna Roberson

Modified By: Debbie Kuykendall

Date Modified: April 20, 2004