View from My Window: Research

What was it like to enter America as an immigrant in the early 1900’s? In this assignment, you

are going to “become” an immigrant and create a journal entry which captures your experience.

Choose a country of origin (remember, NEW immigrants who arrived near the end of the

1800’s often came from southern European countries like Italy and Greece, Asian countries like

China, or were of Jewish faith moving away from persecution in Russia). Also make up a name,

an age, and a family situation.

Then, find four primary source documents (three first person written accounts like journals and

one picture) and answer the questions (bullet points are fine) about your experiences as an

immigrant in the late 1800’s. NO ANOMALIES!! Make sure the things you mention actually

existed in the late 1800’s!

1. Country of Origin:

Name:

Age:

Family Consists Of:

Profession:

Why did you leave your home country?

2. How did you get to America? Provide details about how you crossed the ocean to get

here (steerage). What was the crossing like? What problems came up?

3. Did you enter through Ellis Island or Angel Island? Describe your experience.

4. Describe the neighborhood you moved into in America. Who helped you get settled and

gave you aid if you needed it (benevolent society, settlement houses, Jane Addams,

Hull House, Florence Kelley, Jacob Riis)?

5. Do you live in a tenement? Is it in a skyscraper or a suburb? What is it like? What are

some of the problems in your community (pollution, garbage, disease, sanitation

problems, poor water quality)?

6. What kind of work did you find? Do you work in a sweatshop, factory, or did you find a

job doing something else (be specific)?

7. What kinds of transportation do you use?

8. Did you experience any discrimination or prejudice? Why do you think you were singled

out for abuse?

View from My Window: PROJECT

FIRST:

Write a journal entry from the perspective of the immigrant you created. Must be typed!!

Entry must be 3 paragraphs. EACH paragraph must have a topic sentence, 4

supporting details, and a conclusion. (Total length: 1 page or more).

Entry must include seven specific terms which are explained and highlighted. SECOND:

Draw a picture which shows the view of your community from your tenement window.

Include five vocabulary terms and label them in your picture from your notes

Label your items/vocabulary (see above).

COLOR the picture neatly, using crayons or colored pencils. The picture should

take one side of one page (top to bottom and side to side). Use a PORTRAIT

orientation.

THIRD:

Assemble the project.

Lay your journal entry over the top of the picture.

Cut a window flap in your journal entry which exposes the part of the picture

which you think is the most meaningful or memorable for the immigrant (leave the

window attached as a flap so it can be opened and closed; I will show you how.)

Make sure that whatever shows through the window is also labeled with a term

from this period of history (for example, sweatshops).

COMPLETED PROJECT Due: Tuesday, January 14.

Scoring Guide: View From My Window

1. Journal: 3 or more thoughtful, well-constructed paragraphs……………………….. /9

2. Journal: 7 highlighted terms, used and explained, from HOLT ch. 20….……..…,,,,, /7

3. Picture: correct size, colorful, neat, and creative and used crayons/ colored pencils,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,………………………………………………………………,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, /4

4. Picture: 5 labeled terms from vocab and HOLT ch. 20………………………………. /5

5. Document Analysis: 4 Sources (Completely filled out)………………………………….. /8 6. Research Questions completed with 3 THOUGHTFUL bullet points per question.. /7

Total: /40