Inquiry Lesson -Exploring Emotional Stress: The Journey of Immigrant Students in the United States

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Updated a year ago

Lesson description

Grade Level: Middle School (6th - 8th grade) Subject: Social Studies/English Language Arts/Neuroscience Lesson Objective: Students will understand the emotional stress experienced by immigrant students when entering the United States. Students will develop empathy and appreciation for the challenges faced by immigrant students. Students will be able to communicate their understanding through written and verbal expression. Procedure: Introduction (10 minutes): Begin the lesson by engaging students in a discussion about immigration. Ask them if they know anyone who has immigrated to the United States or if they have heard stories about immigrant experiences. Write the word "emotional stress" on the board and ask students what they think it means. Facilitate a brief discussion, encouraging students to share their ideas and definitions. Brainstorming Activity (15 minutes): Divide the class into small groups of 3-4 students. Provide each group with a piece of chart paper, a whiteboard, markers/colored pencils. Instruct the groups to brainstorm and list the different emotions immigrant students might experience when entering the United States. Encourage them to think about both positive and negative emotions. After 10 minutes, ask each group to share their lists with the class and compile a master list on the board. Immigrant Stories Research (20 minutes): Share a video on immigration: Nick News: Kids, Immigration and Equality looks at the history of immigration in the United States and how it's evolved to today. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo-aHleRBRo and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugPJi8kMK8Q Or Assign each student a different immigrant story to research on Newsela.com. Gallery Walk (15 minutes): Create a "gallery" of students' research findings by displaying their notes or summaries around the classroom. Instruct students to walk around the room, read the research findings of their classmates, and note down additional emotional stress examples they find in other immigrant stories. After the gallery walk, gather the students for a whole-class discussion. Discuss the additional examples they found and encourage students to share their observations. Reflection and Expression (20 minutes): Ask students to individually reflect on what they have learned about the emotional stress experienced by immigrant students. Provide them with guiding questions to structure their reflection, such as: How did the video stories you researched make you feel? Why is it important to understand the emotional stress immigrant students endure? How can we show empathy and support for immigrant students in our school/community? Ask students to write a short reflection response (1-2 paragraphs) addressing these questions. Afterward, give students the opportunity to share their reflections with a partner or in small groups. Conclusion (5 minutes): Wrap up the lesson by having a brief class discussion based on the students' reflections. Encourage students to share their thoughts and insights. Emphasize the importance of empathy and support for immigrant students, highlighting that understanding their emotional stress can help create a more inclusive and compassionate community. Extension Activity (optional): Encourage students to interview an immigrant colleague they know or someone from a local immigrant community to understand their experiences firsthand. They can create a short report about their interview. *Discussion about Power & Privilege Note: Throughout the lesson, creating a safe and inclusive environment where students feel heard and seen is essential.