Sept. 19, 2007: Settling in America

The Mini Page is a syndicated, four-page tabloid written for young children found each Wednesday in the Rocky Mountain News. This issue of The Mini Page is available through the eEdition Archive to registered eEdition subscribers. Click here to learn about subscribing to the eEdition at no cost to you (for Colorado teachers).

Activities:

1. Draw a large dinner plate on a piece of paper, or get a large paper plate. Now find newspaper words and pictures that show foods from three different countries. Paste the words and pictures on your plate.

2. Draw an outline of the United States on a large piece of paper. Cut out newspaper words and pictures that show why people want to come to this country. Paste your words and pictures on your map.

3. Take an informal survey of family members and friends. Ask each person to identify the original homeland of his or her ancestors. List each country mentioned, then count up the names of the countries. Which country was named most often? Which country is closest to the United States? Which country is farthest?

4. Find a newspaper story or picture that illustrates how people in the United States (a) can get a good job, (b) can practice their religion, (c) can get a good education, and (d) can be free to express their ideas.

5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about the experiences of a specific immigrant group. Select one of the groups identified in today's Mini Page, such as Europeans, Asians or Hispanics. Use these questions to guide your research: Where are the countries of origin for people in this group? When did the largest number of these immigrants come to the United States? Why did they want to come here? What employment did they find? What language, customs and foods did the group contribute to our culture? Write a paragraph discussing your findings.

This week's standards:

• Students understand that history relates to events and people of other times and places by identifying examples of interesting Americans. (Social Studies: History)
• Students identify and describe ways that family, groups and community influence the individual's daily life and personal choices. (Social Studies: Individual Development and Identity)
  
  

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)