Community Students learn about different types of communities, see how an immigrant or migrant families created connections, and reflect on their own communities.
Theme: Community | Grades 1 – 2
1960s Saez Velez Family
The Saez Velez Family story features a Puerto Rican family and their 1968 tenement home. Students learn their migration story and explore the objects in their recreated apartment to learn about the family’s culture and consider what’s needed to create a home. Through video interviews and family and neighborhood photographs, students will examine how the family builds community within their home, in the neighborhood, and even between Puerto Rico and New York City. Students will reflect on how they themselves belong to many different communities.
Themes: Community, Culture and Identity, Jobs and Industry
Topic: Puerto Rican Immigration
Duration: 60 minutes
Connections to our Curriculum:
- Oral History of a memory from José Velez about helping his mom
- José Velez’s 3rd Grade Class Portrait
- José Velez Discusses Watching Spanish Channels
- Photograph of Wong, Epstein and Saez Velez Families
1970s Wong Family
The Wong Family story features a Chinese American family and their 1970’s tenement home. Students learn their immigration story and explore the objects in their recreated apartment to learn about the family’s culture and consider what’s needed to get by in a new place. Through video interviews and family and neighborhood photographs, students examine the Wong children’s experiences with immigration, play, school, their parents’ work, and helping each other. Students will be encouraged to make past to present connections to the family story and space.
Themes: Community, Culture and Identity, Jobs and Industry
Topic: Asian Immigration
Duration: 60 minutes
Connections to our Curriculum:
- Footage of 1980’s Chinatown Garment Factory
- Oral History of Kevin Wong Discussing his name
- Photograph of Wong, Epstein and Saez Velez Families
Teaching Resources
We offer teacher-designed, teacher-tested lesson plans where students learn to interpret objects, oral histories, and primary sources while making modern connections. Find unit plans, lesson plans, primary sources, and non-fiction family stories, made for flexible use in your classroom.
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