Objective:      The main objective of this assignment is to develop a better understanding of the United States as a “Nation of Immigrants” by studying your own ancestry and heritage.  Although many of you may already be familiar with your ethnic background(s), this project will allow you to better understand the history of your family and its movement to America.  Just like many immigrants coming to this nation, you will discover your family’s motives and difficulties moving to this “Nation of Immigrants”.

  Assignment: The emphasis of this assignment will be to research the FIRST immigrants within your family, or within that of a friend, neighbor, or a teacher’s/coach’s family.  In order to do this, you will have to conduct interviews with people who have immigrated to the United States or relatives of that first generation.

The Requirements: To successfully complete this project, the student must complete the following requirements:

1.      INTERVIEWS:  Interview some of your own family members close friends, or teachers/coaches.  These may include your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, great aunts and uncles, old family friends or yourself.  The results of these interviews will help you with #2 below.  In addition, a typed summary of these interviews should be turned in on the due date.  Sample interview questions are found on the back.

2.      TRIFOLD:  Once you find out something about your family and YOU, create a poster depicting your family’s history or the group you have chosen.  Possibilities include making a family tree or charting you/your family members’ path of immigration to America.  To make your exhibit more creative, find three artifacts to successfully complete the following assignment.  What is an artifact?  An artifact is an object that reveals something about the people who created it.  A personal artifact reveals something about you.  The three artifacts must fit the following criteria.  After choosing each artifact, fill out the chart found on the back with the appropriate information.  Artifacts can be documents, such as pictures, drawings, or photographs of traditional clothing, a letter, or even a recipe, to illustrate your cultural heritage.   You must have at least three artifacts that…

1.      Best represents your family’s roots: the ethnic, national, religious, or educational, etc. background of your parents.

2.      Best represents your values: principles of behavior or beliefs that are important to you

3.      Best represents your group associations or personality. This may include items from a sport you play, music you listen to, or an object representing your personality.

3. “Where I’m From” POEM:  As a way to factor in more of YOU and YOUR memories into this project, please write a “Where I’m From” poem.  Suggestions as to how to write one and suggestions are found on the back. 

4.  DUE DATE:  __________________________________.