Immigration/ Immigrant Rights Curriculum

Immigration and immigrant rights remain very important issues in many school communities.   Donald Trump’s Presidency reflected hostility to undocumented immigrants. Anti-immigrant policies of the Trump Presidency included:
 
  • a substantial increase in deportations of the undocumented from the U. S.
  • a significant reduction in legal immigration to the U. S.
  • termination of DACA, the program which protected from deportation 800,000 young immigrants brought to the U. S. as children (Trump’s decision to terminate DACA was overturned by a federal court).
  • Separating children from their parents at the border without any plan to reunite families
 
The Biden administration has demonstrated a far more favorable attitude toward the approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants who are in the U. S while maintaining Trump policies preventing new immigrants from entering the country illegally.  Under Biden:
 
  • deportations of the undocumented from the U. S. have been substantially reduced
  • legal immigration has returned to pre-Trump levels
  • DACA has been reinstated (a federal court has stopped admitting additional individuals to the DACA program but protection from deportation remains for those in DACA before 2017).
  • support has been provided for legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for the great majority of undocumented immigrants in the country (this legislation has not been passed by Congress)

Integrating Immigration issues into classes across the curriculum

Issues of immigration and immigrant rights can be integrated into classes across the curriculum. 

  • In math classes teachers can assign work with data and creation of tables on topics such as:  patterns of immigration to the U. S.; economic contributions of immigrant groups and the crime rate of immigrants compared to those born in the U. S. (the immigrant crime rate is lower)
  • In language arts classes teachers can assign reading and literature addressing the lives of immigrants, the problems confronted by immigrant families and the contributions they make.  Students can read, write and discuss their experiences in relation to these topics.
  • Social studies teachers can have students study changes in policy and treatment of immigrants to the U. S. over time and analyze the social context for these changes.  They can employ the five lesson Immigration/Service Learning curriculum and accompanying student reflection booklet that we have developed.
The life issues curriculum we support is always consistent with class learning objectives and provides learning activities designed to help students meet common core state standards.  

Service Learning related to immigrant rights

Immigration/immigrant rights curriculum can be readily accompanied by school and community based-service learning enabling students to translate their concerns into civic action that supports their communities.   

School based service learning may include:

  • Student presentations of what they have learned in relation to the needs of immigrant families and immigrant rights to classes of younger students 
  • Student initiated school assemblies, presentations and discussion groups on the needs of immigrants
  • Formation of support groups for undocumented students
  • Posters and petitions supporting the undocumented

Community service learning projects may include:

  • Inviting organizations like the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and community based organizations to bring speakers on immigrant rights to your school, and, 
  • Engaging students in work carried out by these organizations --e.g. advocating continuation of DACA and voter registration

Immigration and Immigrant Rights Curriculum and Service Learning Unit


The Immigration and Immigrant Rights Curriculum and Service Learning Unit consists of five lessons and an accompanying Student Reflection Booklet.  The Curriculum is designed for high school Civics and Social Studies classes. The five lessons address:

  • The History of Immigration to the U.S. and My Family's Experience
  • The Historic Debate about the value of Immigration
  • Increased Diversity in the U.S. and Misperceptions of Immigrants
  • The dilemma of the Undocumented 
  • The current Immigration Crisis

Click here to download the Immigration/Immigrant Rights Curriculum and accompanying Student Reflection booklet

Click Here for a bibliography on Immigrant/ Immigrant Rights sorted by grade level

​Mark Siemsen, a Social Studies teacher at Farragut High School in Chicago discusses how use of the curriculum in his civics classes effectively engaged students and facilitated student learning:

​Click Here for Mark Siemsen's discussion of the effectiveness of the immigration/Immigrant Rights curriculum in his classes.

Molly Winter, a Social Studies student teacher at Farragut High School in Chicago incorporated the curriculum into her civics classes effectively engaging students and facilitated student learning:

​Click Here for Molly Winter's  lesson plans incorporating the immigration/Immigrant Rights curriculum into her classes.
 Free 5 CPDU online workshop through Northeastern Illinois University’s College of Education
 
Integrate pressing life issues into classes across the curriculum to effectively engage students in learning and support social emotional growth
 
CLICK HERE to access the online workshop
 
No need to come to a training.  Download and complete the online workshop at your own pace