LESSON 6: ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN IMMIGRATION
Pre-Reading Discussion
What is immigration?
Immigration is the movement of non-native people into a country in order to settle there.
Who is a refugee?
A refugee is a person who flees for refuge or safety, especially to a foreign country, as in time of political upheaval, war, etc.
• What do students know about the immigration of Asian and Pacific Islanders to the United States?
• How were these groups of people treated when they arrived?
• Did all the new settlers have equal rights?
• What kinds of jobs do you think they had?
JOURNAL WRITE
Give students 15-30 minutes to complete.
Imagine there are political problems and major violence happening in your city. You and your family have to leave immediately,
taking only the clothing you have on today. You will be staying in a camp with thousands of other families, waiting and hoping
to be taken to another country in order to be safe.
• What are the thoughts and feelings you would have?
• What would be your greatest fears?
• What would you do to try to remain calm?
• What is one item you would take from your home, if you could?
Your family is taken to another country. You are safe, but your family has to start over from scratch: no money, no jobs,
new schools, new language, etc.
• Have you ever traveled to a place where you didn’t speak the language? How did that make you feel? Imagine going to school and not
understanding anything.
• What jobs might you and your parents have to take to start earning money?
• List five adjectives to describe the life skills that immigrants must possess and why?
• As you reflect on this exercise, does it give you a newfound appreciation for what immigrants and refugees go through?
Why or why not?
CLASS READING
A Brief History of Asian Immigration to the United States Mainland
(Appendix)
• Have students highlight/underline areas that are most surprising to them. Students will discuss their findings later in class.
POST READING DISCUSSION
• During your reading, what surprised you the most? Why?
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