Students dive deep into the lives of immigrants in New York’s worst slums through Riis’ photography and to understand the struggles of immigrants and the problems of urbanization and realize the importance of shedding light on contemporary social ills. Students explore the push and pull factors that brought millions of immigrants to America’s shores, the allure of the city, and the terrible consequences of rapid urbanization. Learning the awesome story of how Riis struggled at first just to survive in NYC and then to bring attention to the plight of millions suffering in the darkness, students understand the historical factors that ushered in the Progressive Era.
What Students Do
Students complete a mini-DBQ (Document Based Question) with 3 sources: a photograph, a diagram, and short text. They answer short guiding questions to check for understanding before writing a brief essay using the documents.
Research, analyzing primary sources, and essay writing.
Our US History video curriculum allows you to lecture less and engage more! Spend your time working with and supporting students instead of so much direct instruction. This is history for the now! Perfect for the classroom and for homeschool history video curriculum!