Munn_Immigration

Reading & Social Studies Integration

LEARNING GOAL / OBJECTIVE
I can understand that immigration in the United
States can be a controversial issue by reading a
current event article about immigration and using
the information in the text to help formulate my
views on the topic.
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING
 Observation of student learning and
behaviors/ anecdotal records
 Student Graphic Organizers
 TASK – writing
ACCOMODATIONS/MODIFICATIONS
MCCRS
Primary Reading Standards: RL. 3.2: Determine the main
idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they
support the main idea.
Primary Social Studies Standard: Social studies programs
should include experiences that provide for the study of how
people create, interact with, and change structures of power,
authority, and governance. Commented [J1]: Students were able to achieve the lesson
objective by utilizing our close reading strategies to deepen their
understanding of the information being presented in the article.
MATERIALS Scholars underline key details about the different views on
immigration and then engaged in turn and talk with their table
partners to discuss their personal stance on immigration.
Text: America has long been in conflict over rising
immigration
Document Camera

IL - CFU, repeated directions, modified Writing notebook

instruction, reduced workload

Read article with student and discuss each

paragraph. Provide him with a list of words to
describe his reaction to the information being
read.

AGENDA (Lesson Sequence) BIG IDEA/TASK

❶ Introduction & Establish Purpose/ Lesson:
Connect with Prior Learning - Tuesday We can become more informed citizens by supporting our
❷ Name It! - views with evidence.
❸ Explicit Teach & Shared

LESSON SEQUENCE TEACHING MOVES & LANGUAGE

❶ State the purpose of the strategy, skill or task
Introduction &
Since Europeans and others first started coming to this country, there have been
Establish Purpose
several books and articles written about the immigration experience. Since the
Connect with Prior Learning arrivals of foreigners into the United States, there has been a debate about how
many immigrants should come to the United States. Believe it or not, this debate is
still continuing today. In this lesson, we will read and annotate an article in order to
determine the varying views on immigration and its effects on immigrants.
Munn_Immigration

❷- Name the strategy, skill or task.

Name It!
Today, you will use close reading strategy to annotate the text in order to truly
comprehend the article about immigration before formulating your own opinion. By
Tell them what you will
teach today. close reading, you will be able to cite evidence from the text to formulate your own
opinions and take a stance on immigration.

❸ Explicit Demonstrate how the skill, strategy, or task is completed.

Teach/Shared
It is important that we stay informed about social justice issues. One social justice
Practice
issue deals with immigration. In order to be informed citizens, we must learn about
the history of immigration and the views of immigrants held by United States citizens.

Today as we read the article, “America has long been in conflict over rising
immigration” we will focus our attention on step one of our close reading strategy.

-Step 1: Underline any key terms or ideas you find to be important

-Step 2: Circle words or phrases that you don’t know
-Step 3: Annotate in the margins

Before reading the article, I will ask scholars to identify the individual that’s depicted
on the front page of the article (Donald Trump). Students will be instructed to state
what they know and how they feel about this individual. Scholars will then share their
response.
-Explain to students that they will first listen as the text is read aloud to them. After
listening to the information presented in the article, students will then reread the
article and underline any pertinent information about individuals’ stance on
immigration (step one of the close reading strategy-striving to understand the main
idea being presented in the article by focusing on key details).
Commented [J2]: All scholars knew that the image of the
individual on the front of the article was of President Trump. All
students also shared that they did not like the president because he
was racist and was “trying to build a wall to keep people out”.
When I ask scholars to be more specific and provide me concrete
evidence as to why they feel the way that they do, most scholars
said that’s what they heard from their parents and the news. I
shared with students that it is important to read and gather
information for oneself as it will help you be able to better
articulate your views and have evidence to support it.

-Read the text to students.

-Instruct scholars to reread the text and underline key details they are learning about
immigration.
Now that you’ve had the opportunity to reread the article, using your level 2 voices
or light voices, take two minutes to share with your table what you’ve learned about
immigration. Go!
Commented [J3]: I emphasized to students that they should
not simply be underlining everything they are reading. Instead, they
should focus on the viewpoint of the president as well as why
people support or do not support immigration. Focusing on these
details will help them better understand the various views on
immigration in the United States.

-As students are discussing, I’ll monitor the room and take anecdotal notes about the
information being discussed. Scholars will be given one minute to share in whole
group after their table discussion.
Now that we’ve had an opportunity to discuss the text, you will work with your table
Commented [J4]: As I monitored the room, I noticed that all
scholars were sharing similar views. Students said that immigrants
should be allow to come to the US because they are seeking to help
a better life for themselves. Because I have several scholars that are
immigrants, they were able to contribute to the conversation by
saying “I am immigrant, and I am not dangerous”.
Munn_Immigration
group to create a t-chart in your writing notebook as the one shown on the board.
On the right you will include reasons presented in the article that highlights why
people are against immigration and on the left will be reasons why people support
immigration.

-Now that we have our details recorded, and are more informed about the varying
views on immigration, it is time for us to take our own stance. Take a minute to
reflect on everything we have learned about immigration and determine whether
you think you are for or against immigration. Record your response in your writing
journal (5 minutes). Commented [J5]: Scholars independently formulated their
opinions based upon the information they cited from the article
“America has long been in conflict over rising immigration”.
Scholars were able to draw on their own experiences, as well as
their relationship with their peers that are immigrants to share why
Independent Writing Task: they believe immigration should be supported. One main support
for immigration that was shared by students is “immigration will
help those that are poor strive to build a better life for themselves
in a safe country”.
Now that you have formulated your own opinion based upon the details presented
in the article, “America has long been in conflict over rising immigration”, it is time
for us to take it a step further and act as active citizens of our community. To
accomplish this task, you will be writing to your state senator (Chris Van Hollen and
Ben Cardin) to share with them your new insight on immigration and actions you
think they should take to support or restrict immigration. Remember, it’s not about
just knowing facts, but rather yet using your voice to bring about positive change in
the world you live in.

-I will instruct scholars to use the t-chart they created to cite evidence about why
people either support or are against immigration. Scholars must also state specific
actions Maryland state senators should take to address the issues of immigrants in
the United states. Below is the prompt that was provided to students.

Write in complete sentence and provide well thought out answers to the following
questions when writing your letter to the senator.
-What do you know about immigrants or immigration?
-What are the two different views about immigration?
-What are your views/opinions about immigration?
-What actions should the senator take to help support your views?