Immigrant to Citizen

Grades 5-8

The process of becoming an American citizen is not an easy one, but it is one many immigrants pursue.  In this unit, students learn about the process and the challenges to becoming American citizens in order to gain an understanding of what citizenship offers and what naturalized citizens can offer to the United States in return.

The four lessons in this unit take students through a journey of becoming citizens.  By learning the steps of the naturalization process for historical and current citizens, by understanding the motivations for becoming citizens, and by comparing the challenges experienced by non-citizens past and present, students become aware of how the naturalization process works.   The stories told will be of Ancient Greeks, mid-nineteenth century Chinese Americans and Irish American, a twentieth century Armenian family, contemporary Latin Americans, and themselves.  Students’ understanding will be guided by a variety of sources, past and present: naturalization papers, contemporary and recent photographs, Civil War letters, historical and modern newspaper articles, ancient and modern artifacts, podcast and personal interviews, and objects of their own lives.   Through these explorations of the process, meaning, and impact of citizenship, students will come to understand the meaning of “becoming American.”

So, You Want To Become An American Citizen? Created by: Lisa DiSalvatore, Lafayette School, Everett	Considering Citizenship: The Story of the Keverians Created by:  Linda Maltais, Parlin School, Everett	Fighting to Fit In: The Irish Struggle to Be One with the Union Created by: Patrick Condon, East Middle School, Braintree	Immigrants and Citizenship: Looking at early Chinese Americans, present day Latin Americans and the ancient Athenians Created by: Kathryn Gamache, East Middle School, Braintree