by Ifrah Aydid, San Diego State University
C Aaron Borunda, San Diego State University
Nichole Chrisman, SDSU
Brittany Demara, San Diego State University
Suzann Ellaicy, SDSU
In this lesson the class will explore what life is like not only for different groups during California's immigration and migration time period but different roles within these groups. Through the use of journals each child will take on the role of a Chinese or Russian immigrant, Native American, East Coast migrant, or Spanish/Mexican local. Each group will face their own special trials and tribulations. All individuals in the groups will write about their experiences. In addition to group writing every child will have his/her own issues to address based on their character.
Teacher Introduction
This lesson came from something I myself did in fifth grade. My class did a coming to America project and I had so much fun with it that I belived other children would as well. With California being such a huge unit for the forth grade it was easy to translate my fifth grade project over to a forth grade California project. One of the major aspects that children will get from a project like this is to live in somebody else's shoes. This may even help to teach tolerance in a small way to a classroom. The larger lesson will be to explore the various groups of people who came to California, why they came, and what jobs they obtained once they reached the state.