Assignment #12 Webquest

Living in the United States: Diversity through understanding Citizenship and Immigration

A WebQuest for 9^th -12th Grade Social Studies

Hazel E. Muñoz
hmunoz@lcmf.com

Last updated on August 1, 2002. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page

Introduction

You are a foreign national from Mexico who just arrived in the United States on a student visa. Your goal is to obtain citizenship. Along your journey, you encounter many obstacles, the least of which is a language barrier. This webquest focuses on the cultural aspects of becoming a U.S. citizen; those small, yet significant, intricacies that make up the United States way of life. It will also explore how foreign nationals are treated and how we can create a more tolerant society by realizing the United States is a nation of immigrants – a nation built on the unique contributions of a diverse population.

USINS Internet Home Page

Description: Immigration and naturalization information including immigration law, immigration statistics, and...

Category: Society > Issues > Immigration

www.ins.usdoj.gov/ - 22k - Cached - Similar pages

The Task

You will walk away from this lesson with a deeper appreciation for the conglomeration of cultures that make up the “melting pot”. To do so, you will:

Explore the problems foreign nationals experience;
Realize it’s not so easy to be accepted by others;
Learn the steps involved in gaining citizenship;
Find out the opportunities unavailable abroad, which we take for granted in the United States;
Find out where your ancestors originated from – tracing your roots;

INS History, Genealogy, and Education -

Finding Information on One’s Own Immigrant Background.

Create group reports reflecting upon situations where you did not feel comfortable;
Keep a small journal about the unusual situation you find your self in (i.e. being treated unfairly because you were not born here);
In a skit, recreate an awkward situation foreign nationals often encounter; and

Once you have completed the above steps, you will be issued a “green card”, allowing you to live and work in the United States.

United States Immigration - Complete U.S. Immigration Info Site

Eligibility & Applications for U.S. Visas, Green Cards & Citizenship

This permit allows you to stay while you work toward citizenship. At this point, we embark a subsequent unit.

The Process

Groups will be assigned regions. Group members will be assigned countries. As a group, students will help each other through the immigration process by using “Life in the U.S.A.” software, which aids immigrants in adapting to U.S. culture

Groups will assess one another through “group evaluations”. Also, within each group, students will evaluate each other through “peer evaluations”.

Evaluation

	D	C	B	A	Score
Cultural Assessment	Assigned country is mentioned, but no information on culture	Assigned country is mentioned with minimal information on culture	Assigned culture is given with clear comparison to host country	Assigned country is mentioned with clear comparison to host and valuable insight to how adapting to the host country may present challenges
Living in the United States Activities	Difficulty seeing how and why living in the U.S. is such a big deal	Some appreciation for things uniquely American	Appreciation for American culture	Appreciation for American culture and a clear understanding of the challenges faced by immigrants
Group interaction	Shows up for class	Speaks to other group members	Participates in group activities, taking an interest and contributing	Participates in group activities, taking an interest and contributing by taking on a leadership role

Conclusion

Foster diversity awareness through teaching citizenship and immigration

Foster citizenship appreciation by demonstrating the privilege we take for granted as U.S. Citizens

Credits

Ginger Golsan, PhD. Ed., Alaska Pacific University, for providing guidance in terms of curriculum development

Mike Davis, High School Teacher, Kaveolook School, Kaktovik, Alaska 1989-1993, for inspiring me to pursue education and providing the academic foundation to do so.

Jesus Munoz, husband, for exposing me to a foreign language and culture.

To create your own webquest, you should go to The WebQuest Page to download the template and training materials developed by Bernie Dodge of San Diego State University and the Educational Technology Department of San Diego City Schools.