Title: Many People, Many Beginnings
Duration: 40 minutes
Objectives: Students will be able to: Discuss how waves of immigration influenced the city’s development by considering cultural contributions to the community.
Vocabulary: Community, Native, Immigrants, Traditions, Customs
Materials: flip books day 3 and 4, story books, smart board, props: sport items, instruments, food, toys, ideas, etc.
Anticipatory Set: The teacher will give an example of this/her own traditions and customs. Encourage the students to think of their own and share as a class. Then encourage the students to think about what immigrants brought with them from their native countries. Students may think about their traditions and customs. Ask the students to recall what tradition or custom was mentioned in Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard.
Encourage the students to think about the following questions: What games do you like to play? What are your favorite foods to eat? Where did your ancestors come from? What music do you like to listen to? Our everyday enjoyments were created by people from all around the world.
Discuss how all people contributed to the New Haven that we live in today by reading:
What the World Eats, A History of Music for Children, Kids Around the World Play!
After reading and discussing as a class, encourage the students to think about where they might find evidence of diversity in their community by considering food, music, and sports, as examples. Students will be encouraged to explore New Haven through a Google map which highlights diversity in the community. As a whole class, the teacher may add places that are known by the students. The teacher may utilize the tribal nations map from above to add specific places in a whole class conversation.
The teacher may also share the following information which was created by Students in Nataliya Braginsky's African American and Latinx History course (2019-2020, 2020-2021). Also see Artidea.org to explore African American, Indigenous, and Latinx history:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=10PXHhQAxkuGfyk3z7IhTkB9-6ETuLvOq&usp=sharing
This unique Google Map allows the whole class to explore some of African American, Indigenous, and Latinx influence in New Haven. It is a great way for students to share what they may personally recognize or would like to learn more about, while also shedding light on the beauty of the unity found within the community.
Looking Ahead:
In preparation for the next lesson, the teacher may have students complete a homework assignment by having a family member verbally record or write down a family custom or tradition. Students may also bring in items that represent family or are meaningful to their family. Students will be encouraged to use good listening skills and to provide positive feedback to one another on the day of sharing.
Example 1: Students may bring in drumsticks and share how making music is important in his/her home. It is an activity that is enjoyed and brings feelings of positivity. Alternatively, students may be encouraged to bring in an item that reminds them of a family member or a fond memory. Students may then begin to feel a sense of unity while recognizing common feelings and understandings for different items, family members, or memories.
Lesson 8 Invitation: The teacher will invite students to bring in food, games, instruments, pictures, activities, stories to the lesson discussion. Family members are encouraged to join in and share their customs and traditions with the class. Students will be encouraged to turn and talk with each other about traditions and customs while finding commonalities between one another.
Images and Citations:
Richards, M. A., Schweitzer, D. A., & Blake, R. (2021). A history of music for children. Thames and Hudson.
Menzel, P., & D'Aluisio, F. (2007). Hungry planet: What the world eats. Material World Books.
Braman, A. N., & Nidenoff, M. (2002). Kids around the World Play!: The best fun and games from many lands. J. Wiley & Sons.