Curriculum Unit Plan, Lesson Plan


Upper Elementary Im/migration Unit Plan

The Tenement Museum is thrilled to offer these resources for studying immigration and migration in your classroom.

The resources are built on the stories of real people who lived in the Tenement Museum’s buildings in the Lower East Side of New York City, and we’ve designed lessons and activities to support you as a teacher in fostering empathy, connecting past to present, and humanizing immigration experiences, all while strengthening your students’ historical thinking skills.

This resource set can be used as a whole, or you can select lessons and resources for topic, theme, and timeframe.

In this resource set, you’ll find:

  • 13 lessons about real families who lived in 97 and 103 Orchard Street on the Lower East Side, covering immigration from the 1870s-1980s.
  • Primary sources with accompanying activity suggestions for Upper Elementary students.
  • Non-fiction texts about the Tenement Museum families, with accompanying comprehension questions and writing activities.
  • Video stories with the Tenement Museum’s costumed interpreters, bringing history to life in the recreated apartments of 97 Orchard Street.

Lessons

13 lessons about real families who lived in 97 and 103 Orchard Street on the Lower East Side, covering immigration from the 1870s-1980s.


Family Stories

9 non-fiction texts about the Tenement Museum families, with accompanying comprehension questions and writing activities.


Primary Sources

Explore and download documents, photographs, oral histories, and videos with accompanying activity suggestions for Upper Elementary students.

Documents

Photographs

Oral Histories

Videos


Interactive Activities

Learn through our new interactive activities and guided lessons – adapted for all grades and perfect for virtual and in-person instruction.

Guided Lessons

Questions on lessons and activities?

The materials on this page can enrich a visit to the Museum or help you teach about immigration. If you have questions or comments, please e-mail us.

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This Program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.