American Documentary
Confucianism in a Changing Society
The Last Train Home, a 2009 documentary about China's migrant factory workers, provides viewers with an opportunity to explore how China's emergence as a global manufacturing force is challenging Chinese traditional values like...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Guest-Worker Program
The U.S. Guest-Worker Program and the H-2A visa are the focus of a social studies activity. First, class members assume the role of advisors who must present the president with four proposals that would amend the visas given to...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Unauthorized Immigration and the US Economy
As part of a study of immigration and the U.S. economy, class members assume the role of newspaper editors to determine which submitted letters to print on their paper's editorial page to present a balanced view of the debate.
Advocates for Human Rights
Migrants in the Media
Class members examine two documents—The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and The Rights of Migrants in the United States—and then use reports in the media to assess how well the US is doing in ensuring these rights.
EngageNY
Building Background Knowledge: Why Do Workers Strike? (Chapter 11: "Los Aguacates/Avocados")
Make connections between Esperanza Rising and human rights with the activities outlined here. The instructional activity starts out with a brief quiz and review of the novel. After that, pupils circulate and share quote strips that you...
Curated OER
Student Handout 6D: Trail of the Tomato: Group D: Labor Contractors
A research project that concludes with a visual and written presentation. This is all about the tomato and how it relates to the lives of migrant workers, labor contractors, and industrial agriculture. This is a group project that is...
Curated OER
Student Handout 6E: Trail of the Tomato Group E: Farm Workers
What is life like for migrant farm workers picking tomatoes at the industrial level? Your class will research and create a visual display describing farm life, work on the farm, and the pressures put on agricultural producers by high...
Deliberating in a Democracy
Freedom of Movement
Class members examine human migration. For this population lesson, they read an article entitled, "Freedom of Movement" and respond to discussion questions about the article related to guest worker programs.
Curated OER
1880s Agricultural Nation: Foods and Families on the Move
Students complete activities to learn about the agriculture during the 1880s. In this agricultural history lesson, students discuss the brainstorm questions about their neighborhood and its agricultural history. Students research to find...
Curated OER
Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez
Students identify productive resources that are important to migrant workers. In this instructional activity on resources, students give examples of natural resources, human resources and capital resources that apply to migrant workers....
Curated OER
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck: Fun Trivia Quiz
Are you reading The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck in your class? If so, this quiz might be useful for you. This is an online interactive quiz that covers the novel's theme, plot, and characters. The quiz refers to the entire novel,...
Curated OER
A Bracero Remembers Working Near Chicago
In this primary source analysis learning exercise, students analyze an interview with a bracero who describes his memories of working near Chicago. Students respond to 3 short answer questions based on the interview.
Curated OER
A Bracero Compares Expectations versus Reality of Life in the United States
In this primary source analysis worksheet, learners analyze an interview with a bracero who describes the expectations and realities of life in the United States. Students respond to 3 short answer questions based on the...
Curated OER
Corrido of the Uprooted Ones
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students analyze the song "Corrido of the Uprooted Ones." Students respond to 3 short answer questions about the lyrics of the song.
Curated OER
Esperanza Rising: Lesson 9
Sixth graders explore culture by reading a book with classmates. In this Hispanic history lesson, 6th graders read the story First Day in Grapes, and discuss the tough lives of migrant workers. Students answer study questions after the...
Curated OER
Migrant Workers Through the Lens of Dorothea Lange
Students explore the lives of migrant workers during the Great Depression. In this Great Depression lesson, students examine photographs and song lyrics to gain an understanding of the conditions for people living in the era. Students...
University of New Mexico
César Chávez: Migrant Farm Workers and Their Leader
During the first week of instruction, middle schoolers research biographies on Cesar Chavez and make a pictorial collage of his life. For the second and third week, they maintain a seven-day diary of a farmworker and write a poem. For...
Curated OER
Fancying the Full-Time
Students consider rights a worker deserves and research the impact of migrant workers in countries around the world. They create public service announcements to increase awareness and address letters to individuals capable of redressing...
Curated OER
Introduction to a Unit on the 1930's Depression in America
Students view and discuss photographic images of the Dust Bowl by Dorothea Lange. They discuss who Dorothea Lange was and why she took the pictures, the conservational factors that contributed to the Dust Bowl and migrant workers and the...
Curated OER
The Story of a Bracero
Students study a first person account written by a migrant worker from Mexico. They write a reaction to it. They discuss immigration to the US and how it effects labor patterns.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Dust Bowl Days
Seven-lesson collection of lessons and suggested activities for instructing early learners about the Dust Bowl using a variety of primary sources (songs, letters, photos, etc.).
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: A Photo Essay on the Great Depression
Series of annotated photographs that document the realities of Depression-era America.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Riding the Rails: Timeline of the Great Depression
This timeline of the Depression begins in October of 1929 and highlights significant statistics or events, sometimes month by month, through November of 1940 when Roosevelt is re-elected for his third term. From bank collapses to dust...
McGraw Hill
Study Guide for "And the Earth Did Not Devour Him" [Pdf]
The Glencoe Literature Library provides a 22-page on-line study guide for Tomas Rivera's "And the Earth Did Not Devour Him" complete with worksheets.