The Lower East Side Tenement Museum is pleased to present High School Shared Journeys, a workshop series specially designed for transitional bilingual education, dual language, and ESL classes. In each of the workshops, students tour the museum’s historic tenement building, learn new English vocabulary words, and participate in discussion activities about how their own immigrant experiences compare to those of immigrants past.

Workshop topics are:

Students take on then role of a newly arrived immigrant family in the year 1916 and interact with a costumed interpreter playing the role of fourteen year old Victoria Confino, former resident of 97 Orchard Street. They discuss issues such as the challenges of adjusting to a new culture, retaining one’s cultural heritage, and making a home in a new country. After meeting Victoria, students break into small groups to discuss the connections they see between immigrant experiences in 1916 and their own experiences immigrating to the United States.

Students visit the apartment of the Sicilian Baldizzi family, who immigrated to the United States in the early 1920s, when there was a great deal of discrimination against Italians. Students discuss the causes of anti-immigrant sentiment and participate in small group discussion activities about discrimination against immigrants today.

Students take on the role of housing inspectors in the year 1906 and inspect 97 Orchard Street for housing law violations. During their inspection they interact with two costumed interpreters, one playing the role of a Tenement House Inspector and one playing the role of a former landlord of 97 Orchard Street. Afterwards, students receive information about current laws and learn about actions they can take to improve housing conditions today.

Students visit the recreated apartments of a family that worked in the garment industry at the turn of the last century and learn about the efforts of reformers, workers, and others to improve working conditions in garment shops and factories. Students then learn about people who are taking action to improve the lives of immigrant workers today, and about steps they can take to make a difference.

Group Size
The minimum group size is 10 students.
Maximum group size is 30 people.
If your class is larger than 30 students, please inquire about two simultaneous workshops.

Fees
Students: $6 (weekdays) |  $8 (weekends)
Adults: $10

Scheduling
Reservations are required. To make a reservation, please call 212-431-0233, ext. 241, or send an e-mail to groups@tenement.org. All programs are subject to availability and many dates fill up quickly, so please call as far in advance as possible and have alternate dates available.

Please let us know of any special needs your group has.
The Museum offers assistive listening devices and large print materials. 97 Orchard Street is not wheelchair accessible, but programs are available in our accessible Visitors Center at 108 Orchard Street. Please inquire.

Please note: If your class is late, your workshop may be shortened or cancelled.