These slides present a lesson on combining research and technology to create a personalized story about immigration.

1. Welcome to America
How can research and digital technology be used to
create a powerful story?
Library of Congress

2. You are going to conduct targeted research to
● better understand a time period in history in which you are interested in finding out
more about (between 1900-2000). You may wish to choose a time period when your
family emigrated to the U.S. from another country.
● create a short story about an immigrant (real or a composite) using digital resources.
Composite = using factual information in the creation of a fictional
character
Emigrate = to leave one’s own country in order to settle in another
Norms = something that is usual or standard
Your task

3. Where can
you find
information to
get started?

4. Places to find information

5. Next is an example of finding a
primary source and then conducting
an investigation to discover
background information.

6. In looking at this picture, what observations can you make?
What are some clues?
What assumptions can
you make?
What information do
you have to back up
your assertions?

7. Family photo taken in 1925
in Westchester, New York.
Families usually stood
together in their best clothes
for the photographer. This
family photo was taken
outside of their home. This
stone house had three tiny
bedrooms and no running
water at the time.
This family arrived in the
“country” from the Bronx
after passing through Ellis
Island at the beginning of
the century.
Most of the men in this
picture were stone masons,
arriving from Italy with this
skill. The women worked
for the telephone company
(Bell). Only one person in
this family graduated from
high school (the youngest).

8. There are different ways to begin to tell a story.
The following slide shows a brief example. Once you find
your hook, there are endless possibilities.

9. Here is the beginning of a comic strip that begins to tell the story of a family’s immigration to New York from Italy. The writer is
planning to explore life in the early 1920s, society’s norms, and also her Italian heritage that remained a part of family life through the
creation of a comic book. This is one way you can use digital media to tell the story of your family. If you find a good image, the
setting, the objects, the clothing, and the juxtaposition of the people can provide you and your audience with clues about life during that
time period and the immigrant experience. (Pixter.com)

10. If you were to introduce your
family using a digital image and
text in a panel or two, what
would you create?
Activity

11. Here are some ideas to help
you get started
Think the occasion for the photograph or
about some traditions your family enjoys

12. What can you find out about your heritage
Research the area (country) that your family may have emigrated from (if there are
multiple areas, choose one to start). Or you may choose to research an area of interest to
you if you do not wish to research your background. Some ideas to get started:
● What are some big traditions?
● What is a typical family size?
● What type of government existed in that country? (Is it a democracy, a monarchy, a
dictatorship, etc.)
● What are some typical meals and customs?
● What else can you find out about the country?

13. Is there someone you can interview?
This could be a family member (parent, grandparent, or another relative) or a family
friend. Do you know someone from a different country? Is there someone in your family
who keeps the family history?
What kind of questions would you like to ask? (Develop a list to share)
Start to think about who you might be able to speak to about your heritage. Or it may be
someone that is familiar with the country of interest (like a social studies teacher).

14. How can a photo help you to begin a story?

15. Here are some resources to help you get started
● Library of Congress
● National Gallery of Art
● National Portrait Gallery
● The Smithsonian
● There are many other resources to look through about immigration

16. Begin to identify resources to
help you get started
websites
Books
databases
photos
cartoons
oral histories
magazines
family members