Teaching Family History and Immigration for Elementary

I taught third grade for eight years, and one of my favorite units was our study of family history in connection to a unit on immigration (mainly focused on European immigration through Ellis Island). This was a powerful way for my students to see how they and their classmates connected to the wider world and to celebrate all the amazing differences that make us who we are.

In light of all that is happening in the world and in our country right now, I thought it was important to share what we did and to support other teachers in getting kids to break down barriers and embrace differences.

I previously shared some of my findings in a roundtable talk at NCTE in 2015 entitled “Reading Another Culture: teaching diversity without reinforcing stereotypes.” You can download my original slides, handouts, and extensive diverse book list here. In this post, I want to talk more about the specifics for doing a family history study.

Family History and Immigration

We did two main biographical activities: a Getting to Know You blog post and a genealogical study. The questions for the blog post were geared towards sharing about our family and cultural backgrounds, such as favorite foods, languages spoken, members of your family, etc. (You can download a copy of the questionnaire here.) This activity generated a lot of conversation about the things we have in common and the things that are different about us, but all in very positive terms.

For the genealogical study, I sent home a four-page packet that included both a family-tree style layout and a genealogical reference sheet (downloaded from Ellis Island). The cover page was a map of the world, and the back page was a questionnaire about names and name meanings. I also sent a note home to parents, reaffirming that everyone’s family and family history is different and that families should fill out what information they know and how it best fit their family situation. (For example, a student of mine who was adopted by his moms filled in his family tree about both of them. Family is so much more than biology.)

The day we shared about our genealogy packets opened with a two-step activity. When students entered the room, they received small circles for as many countries as they had ancestors or connections. They wrote their name on each circle and decorated it. (For my demo circles, I decorated them using the flag of the country, so many followed that approach.) Then we added all the circles to a large world map on the wall - the photo below shows one section.

When they finished with their circles, everyone received a handout with a series of “Can you find someone who …” questions, encouraging them to start interviewing their classmates and learning about each other. (A note on the white board defined terms such as “second-generation” and “third-generation” immigrant.)

We finished by each sharing about our own findings about our family histories or the meanings of our names. In my last class of third graders we had 30 students who hailed from 36 different countries on 6 continents and who spoke 9 different languages at home!

Invite in the Experts

A final element of our family history study actually took place all year in our classroom. In third grade, our social studies curriculum was a study of world geography and world cultures, so we spent a few months on each of the inhabited continents. At the beginning of the school year I sent an open invitation to parents to come in and present to the class about a country they had lived in or had a personal connection to, and every year the response was overwhelming.

Kids love visitors and presentations (and asking lots of sometimes off-topic questions, if your class is anything like mine). Most parents put together a short PowerPoint presentation about the country and often brought it artifacts or a food to share. Music or dance videos were also popular, though nothing beats photographs of your classmate visiting another place - especially if it was a few years ago!

In my last year of teaching third grade, we Skyped with a student’s uncle in Cairo, traveled to the Galapagos on a boat trip, learned about a great-great grandfather’s journey from Norway to the US as documented in the family Bible, visited a Mongolian yurt, saw news clippings about a grandparent who worked for the Shah of Iran, and much more. You may be amazed by the wealth of experiences and connections available within your school community.

Read, Read, and Read Some More

Books are another great way to invite the world into your classroom. I have previously put together several different book sets that deal with family history and immigration issues. Please consider reading and sharing these wonderful books with your students!

• Nonfiction resources for studying immigration
• Historical fiction and memoirs
• Books about modern-day immigration
• Books that celebrate diversity of / within families
• Picture books of Rene Colato Laínez, many of which feature immigrants to the US
• Books about the Syrian migration to Europe and books about Central American migration through Mexico to the US
• More picture books about recent immigrants and anthologies and novels about immigration
• Stories about US grandchildren with grandparents in different countries

Do you teach family history or immigration units with your students? What other resources or suggestions do you have for teachers?

(I'll be adding some additional posts soon about other extension activities - and what I'm doing now with my seventh graders.) Click on the "Teaching" tag for more lesson plan ideas.

New Immigration Books, part 2: picture books and anthologies

Two years ago I wrote a three-part series about teaching kids about the history and impact of US immigration. The first post introduced nonfiction resources for studying immigration; the second post covered historical fiction and memoirs, including novels and picture books; and the third shared books about modern-day immigration. A few months ago I shared a review of the picture books of Rene Colato Laínez, many of which feature immigrants to the US.

Since those posts, several more wonderful books have come out - so many so that I thought it was high time for a follow up. I've broken them down into several categories. The previous post shared books about the Syrian migration to Europe and books about Central American migration through Mexico to the US, while this post will cover other picture books about recent immigrants and anthologies and novels about immigration.

More Picture Books about Recent Immigrants

The Favorite Daughter (2013) by Allen Say. Based on his own daughter, Yuriko is struggling to figure out where she fits, with her divorced parents and the bright blond hair and Japanese name she inherited from each of them. This is a great story about figuring out who you are and where you belong. (My students' favorite parts of this book are the photographs of Allen Say's actual daughter - especially as a chubby toddler in her kimono!)

Here I Am (2014) story by Patti Kim and illustrated by Sonia Sánchez. This wordless picture book is a wonderful way to convey some of the confusion and difficulty of moving to a new place and not being able to immediately communicate. But when the young boy loses something important, it takes great courage for him to reach out and make a new friend. There is much to discuss and discover here. (The story is inspired by the author's own experience moving to the US from Korea at age 4.)

I'm New Here (2015) by Anne Sibley O'Brien. This thought-provoking picture book follows the stories of three recent immigrants as they try to adjust to their new lives in the United States. The story alternates point-of-view from Maria from Guatemala, Jin from Korea, and Fatimah from Somalia. Each child has a unique way of explaining his/her own difficulties during the adjustment process, and each is helped in different ways by classmates.

My Two Blankets (2015) by Irena Kobald and illustrated by Freya Blackwood. This story is narrated by a young girl who flees her home country due to war and ends up with her aunt in an unfamiliar country with new languages and new animals. The two blankets are a metaphor for how she wraps herself in the known and the familiar, and they are also a testament to the power of a smile and of friendship. The book is based on the author's observations of her own Austrian-Australian daughter and her Sudanese-Australian friend.

A Piece of Home (2016) by Jeri Watts and illustrated by Hyewon Yum. This new addition on the theme of immigration is a first-person story narrated by Hee Jun as his family unexpectedly leaves Korea and moves to West Virginia in the United States. Hee Jun also shares the perspectives of his younger sister and his grandmother, as all three of them adjust to their new life in different ways. A fairly straight-forward story and not particularly memorable. (A review copy of the book was provided by the Candlewick Best in Class mailing. All thoughts are my own.)

Anthologies and Novels about Immigration

First Crossing: stories about teen immigrants (2007) edited by Donald Gallo. This is a powerful collection of short stories about the immigrant experience from a teenage point-of-view, though I wish the stories had more details about how many of them are purely fiction vs. autobiographical. I will definitely be using some of these stories with my middle schoolers. (A review copy of the book was provided by the Candlewick Best in Class mailing. All thoughts are my own.)

Open Mic: riffs on life between cultures in ten voices (2013), edited by Mitali Perkins. I really liked this short story collection and am planning on using several as mentor texts for my students. Authors share stories about growing up and navigating their backgrounds, heritages, and family situations. Many seem to be memoirs or at least directly-inspired by personal experiences. (A review copy of the book was provided by the Candlewick Best in Class mailing. All thoughts are my own.)

The Unforgotten Coat (2011) by Frank Cottrell Boyce (winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2012). This powerful and haunting story revolved around the sudden appearance of Chingis and his younger brother, immigrants to England from Mongolia. The book follows classmate Julie as finds herself suddenly their advocate. Told at times from her grown-up perspective, the story quickly becomes more complex as Julie tried to explain the boys' suspicious behavior. An interesting take on modern immigration and refugees, as well as the complexity of governmental responses.

What are your favorite new books about immigration or immigrants?

Read more in the immigration series here: nonfiction resources for studying immigration , historical fiction and memoirs, picture books of Rene Colato Laínez, books on modern immigration, and new books about Syrian and Central American immigration.

New Immigration Books, part 1: Syrian and Central American immigrants

Two years ago I wrote a three-part series about teaching kids about the history and impact of US immigration. The first post introduced nonfiction resources for studying immigration; the second post covered historical fiction and memoirs, including novels and picture books; and the third shared books about modern-day immigration. A few months ago I shared a review of the picture books of Rene Colato Laínez, many of which feature immigrants to the US.

Since those posts, several more wonderful books have come out - so many so that I thought it was high time for a follow up. I've broken them down into several categories. This post will share books about the Syrian migration to Europe and books about Central American migration through Mexico to the US, while the second post will cover other picture books about recent immigrants, and anthologies and novels about immigration.

Books about Syrian Migration to Europe

Stepping Stones: a refugee family's journey (2016) by Margriet Ruurs and illustrated by Nizar Ali Badr (Bilingual in English and Arabic - Arabic translation by Falah Raheem). The artwork in this book blows my mind. Syrian artist Nizar Ali Badr created each of these illustrations as a 3D collage of river stones, which were photographed for their incorporation into the story. The text itself is a powerful version of the modern refugee story - the fear, the flight, the dangerous voyage across the water, but it's the emotion of the illustrations that make this book memorable.

The Journey (2016) by Francesco Sanna. This picture book tells an intentionally-generic version of a forced immigration story as the narrator, her brother, and her mother flee their home country after the war and the death of her father. The book was inspired by the author's encounter with refugee girls in Italy. This one doesn't work for me as well as other immigration / migration / refugee books. The generic nature of the story makes it harder to connect with the characters, and I felt like the cartoonish border guards also downplay the seriousness of the issue. I'd love to hear other opinions!

Books about Central American Migration to Mexico and the US

Somos como las nubes / We are Like the Clouds (2016) by Jorge Argueta and illustrated by Alfonso Ruano. This collection of bilingual poetry shares powerful insights into the decisions and journeys behind Central American immigration to the US. This is not a single narrative but rather a collection of individual voices. The realistic illustrations and difficult moments depicted make this a powerful picture book for older readers. It is definitely one I will be using with my middle schoolers.

Migrant: the journey of a Mexican worker (2014) by José Manuel Mateo and illustrated by Javier Martínez Pedro [an Américas Awards: honorable mention]. This book is an incredible work of art. Designed in the style of a codex, the book is one giant illustration that folds down in on itself to become the book. One side has the text in English, the other in Spanish. In the story two children and their mother head north in search of their father who has not returned.

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: a migrant's tale (2013) by Duncan Tonatiuh [a Pura Belpré Honor book and [an Américas Awards: honorable mention]. Written in the style of a fable or folktale, Pancho Rabbit deals with the very real-world issue of illegal immigration from Mexico into the United States. When Pancho's father does not return from "El Norte," Pancho sets out to find him and bring him back, with the help of a coyote he meets along the way. Every year when I share this story it leads to powerful conversations - both with my third graders and my middle schoolers! (Click on Part 1 or Part 2 to read more about other books written and/or illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh.)

Mama’s Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation (2015) written by Edwidge Danticat and illustrated by Leslie Staub [a Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Book]. This book shares the story of a young girl whose mother from Haiti is being held in prison because she does not have the right papers. When I shared this book with my third graders, it was clear that they were deeply impacted by the story." We also read the author's note and discussed the fact that many children and many families do not experience a happy ending like the one in the book.

Mamá the Alien / Mamá la Extraterrestre (2016) by René Colato Laínez and illustrated by Laura Lacámara. Sofia has made a startling discovery - hidden in her Mamá's purse is a card identifying her ... as an alien! When her parents' explanations fail to satisfy her curiosity, Sofia decides to do her own research on aliens, which only adds to her confusion and worries. (Bilingual in English and Spanish.) The author's note provides additional information about terminology and his personal immigration story. (Review copy provided by the publisher. All thoughts are my own.)

My review: This is a great story that demonstrates the power of words and labels. Kids can relate to Sofia's flights of imagination and her worries about her place in the world. Every year when I taught my third graders about immigration and family histories, I had students react with similar confusion to the term "illegal alien" and "resident alien." I look forward to sharing this book with the new third grade teacher so she can read it aloud and discuss it with them. (Read an interview with the author here or read about his many other books which feature immigration issues.)

América is Her Name (1997) by Luis J. Rodríguez and illustrated by Carlos Vásquez. (This isn't a new story, but it was new to me.) 9-year old América is dealing with a lot: gangs on the street, an alcoholic father, being called illegal, and the feeling that she has lost her words in switching from Spanish to English. But a school visit from a Puerto Rican poet helps broaden her horizons and set her on a new path.

What are your favorite new books about immigration or immigrants?

Read more in the immigration series here: nonfiction resources for studying immigration , historical fiction and memoirs, picture books of Rene Colato Laínez, and more books on modern immigration.

New Book Alert: I'm New Here

Mark your calendars! One month from today, August 4th, will be the book birthday for I'm New Here by Anne Sibley O'Brien.

This thought-provoking new picture book follows the stories of three recent immigrants as they try to adjust to their new lives in the United States. The story alternates point-of-view from Maria from Guatemala, Jin from Korea, and Fatimah from Somalia. Each child has a unique way of explaining his/her own difficulties during the adjustment process, and each is helped in different ways by classmates.

This will be a great book for sharing at the beginning of the school year, as it has a lot to stay about classroom communities and how to be warm and inviting to all. Kids could brainstorm different ways to reach out to others and to be more welcoming. I will definitely be adding this book to my classroom library.

Looking for other great books about recent immigrants and kids arriving in the US? Check out my text set for Books about Modern Immigration and Immigrants.

(Digital ARC provided via Net Galley in return for an honest review.)

Books about Modern Immigration and Immigrants

This third post concludes our series about teaching kids about the history and impact of US immigration. The first post introduced nonfiction resources for studying immigration, and the second post covered historical fiction and memoirs, including novels and picture books. (Even more posts: Picture Books by René Colato Laínez, New Immigration Books, part 1: Syrian and Central American immigrants, and part 2: picture books and anthologies.)

Modern Immigration: immigrants and the children of immigrants

My Name is Sangoel (2009) by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed and illustrated by Catherine Stock. Sangoel and his mother and little sister are refugees from Sudan who are resettled in the United States. Sangoel tries hard to adjust to many differences, including a frustration that no one can pronounce his name properly.

The Name Jar (2001) by Yangsook Choi. Unhei has just moved to the US from Korea and has decided that she should trade in her name for a new, American, name. After her classmates help out by offering suggestions, an interaction with a new friend helps her change her mind and keep her name.

One Green Apple (2006) by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Ted Lewin. This 'second day of school' book is one that I always share during the first week of school. Farah's story of being in a new school and a new country is one that resonates as we begin to establish our own class community. Students immediately grab onto the symbolism of her "different" apple becoming a part of the blended cider. This is a book we return to again and again as we learn about new people and new cultures and as well think about how to be a welcoming and inclusive community ourselves.

Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed, illustrated by Doug Chayka. This book gently introduces children to the existence of refugees and refugee camps through the touching friendship of Lina and Feroza, two girls from Afghanistan who have made their way to a refugee camp in Pakistan. Both the text and illustrations offer insights into life at camp (including the detail that the girls are excluded from the camp-run school), as well as provides a bit of the tragic back story that led them both to flee their homes and lose members of their families. An important book for introducing a difficult topic.

Lights on the River (1994) by Jane Resh Thomas and illustrated by Michael Dooling. This picture book focuses on the difficult life of some migrant workers in the US. Teresa and her family who moved to the US from Mexico are told to live in a chicken coop with an outhouse.

My Name is Bilal (2005) by Asma Mobin-Uddin and illustrated by Barbara Kiwak. This picture book tells the story of a boy's inner struggle when he and his sister (who wears a headscarf) start at a new school. Bilal learns facts about the historical Bilal and soon makes new friends. This book is geared towards older elementary or middle school-aged students.

Playing War (2005) by Kathy Beckwith and illustrated by Lea Lyon. A group of kids decide to play a game of war only to discover that Sameer, who has recently moved to the neighborhood, lost his family to real war in his home country (unidentified by implied Middle East or Central Asia). I have shared this book in the past with fourth grade students to help them understand the implications of some of the games of pretend that they play and that how they treat each other matters.

The Lotus Seed (1993) by Sherry Garland and illustrated by Tatsuro Kiuchi. This sparse picture book tells the story of the narrator's grandmother and her flight from Vietnam and her resettlement in America (implied). When the narrator's little brother steals grandmother's special lotus seed and tries to plant it, the family learns a lesson about history and perseverance.

Auntie Yang's Great Soybean Picnic (2012) by Ginnie Lo and illustrated by Beth Lo. Chinese-American sisters Ginnie and Beth based this picture book on their own experiences growing up as the child of Chinese immigrants. Homesick for China, Auntie Yang was delighted to find soybeans growing in a nearby field, though the farmer intended to sell them to feed livestock, not people. Thus began the first Great Soybean Picnic, which became an annual event for Chinese-American families in the Chicago area. This is a great story for showing how to find the familiar in a new country and new situation.

Dia's Story Cloth (1996) by Dia Cha and stitched by Chue Cha and Nhia Thoa Cha. This powerful picture book "translates" the Hmong story cloth stitched by the author's aunt and uncle that tells the family's history and migration from Laos to Thailand to resettlement in the United States. The author's note at the beginning gives the context for the cloth, and the lengthy afterwards includes a four-page history of the Hmong or Free People plus a bibliography.

Molly's Pilgrim (1983) by Barbara Cohen. Molly is Jewish and a recent immigrant to the United States. After being mocked by her classmates, Molly's mother helps her make a Russian doll for their Thanksgiving pilgrim display and Molly teaches her classmates a lesson about tolerance and the long history of immigration in the US.

Grandfather's Journey (1993) by Allen Say. Allen Say's grandfather left Japan for America as a young man, but when he is older, he become homesick. He moves his family back to Japan, but his nearly-grown daughter prefers the big city. After the war destroys their city, they all move back to grandfather's ancestral home. As a young man himself, the author leaves Japan and moves to California himself. A really interesting and poignant take on immigration, homesickness, and belonging.

Erika-San (2009) by Allen Say. Erika falls in love with Japan and chooses to study Japanese and then leaves to teach in Japan after college graduation. She wants to learn more about the traditional tea ceremony, but when her friend cannot help her, she finds her own way. This book provides an interesting to contrast to many immigration stories, because in this case, Erika chooses to marry and stay in Japan.

My Mom is a Foreigner, But Not to Me (2013) by Julianne Moore and illustrated by Meilo So. I really wanted to like this book, and I was excited about the concept - a celebration of children whose moms immigrated to the US from another country. However, the rhyme is absolutely abysmal and the constantly changing font is odd and interrupts the flow. (I spent time attempting to analyze it, and the differences in font do not appear to correlate to a specific mom/child, which would be the only reason I can see for using them.) I also found it odd how many of the mom/child pairs do not actually look genetically related, but this is supposed to be a book about family histories. Kids of immigrant parents may be able to see themselves in this book, but I really was hoping for more.

Finally, author Rene Colato Laínez has written many picture books which feature immigrants to the US. Or read more in the immigration series: nonfiction resources for studying immigration and historical fiction and memoirs.

Teaching about US Immigration - nonfiction resources

As part of our study of world geography and world cultures in third grade, we also spend some time learning about immigration to the United States and talking about our own family histories. There are many great resources to help children understand some of the complexity and history behind immigration. This first post provides an overview to some of my favorite nonfiction resources for introducing the history of immigration to young and intermediate-aged elementary students.

The next posts in this series with cover historical fiction and memoir about Ellis Island and turn-of-the-century America and then modern immigrants and immigration. (Even more posts: Picture Books by René Colato Laínez, New Immigration Books, part 1: Syrian and Central American immigrants, and part 2: picture books and anthologies.)

Nonfiction Immigration Resources

The Story of Immigration (2002) by Robert Charles, Reading A-Z. This short nonfiction text introduces many important topics in US immigration including a history of immigration, background on immigration laws and reforms, and introduces three major symbols of immigration: the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Angel Island.

Immigrant Kids (1980) by Russell Freedman. This fantastic resource introduces children to the photographic work of Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine and juxtaposes photographs from the late 1800s and early 1900s with chapters describing what life was like for kids back then, including their homes, schools, work, and play. My students get so much out of reading this book, analyzing the photographs, and comparing and contrasting their own life experiences.

Ellis Island (2004) from Kids Discover magazine. This magazine focuses on the history and experience of coming to Ellis Island and includes many interesting side notes and small stories about actual experiences of individuals.

Immigration (2004) from Kids Discover magazine. This magazine explains about the history and impact of immigration to the United States with some focus on the turn-of-the-century immigrant experience. There are also brief interviews with recent immigrants and a section on immigration in other countries.

Tenement: immigrant life on the lower east side (2002) by Raymond Bial. I use this book mainly for the photographs, which include both historic photographs as well as modern ones from the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. This book is a detailed and informative look at tenement life for immigrants from the 1880s-1930s.

We Came Through Ellis Island: the immigration adventures of Emma Markowitz (2003) by Gare Thompson. This nonfiction book is told mainly through the diary entries and letters of the Markowitz family who left Russia in 1883 and went through Ellis Island on their way to tenement life on the Lower East Side of New York City.

Stay tuned! The next posts in this series with cover historical fiction and memoir about Ellis Island and turn-of-the-century America and then modern immigrants and immigration.

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday Challenge is hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and is a weekly roundup of educator blogs that are sharing nonfiction picture books. Click the link to check out other nonfiction posts.