Immigrants and immigration play a vital role in the curricula of all subjects, from social studies and English language arts to STEM and art. The ILC Public Education Institute compiled this collection of lesson plans, curricular units and resources to help you incorporate immigration into your existing curriculum. Search below or use the “ B rowse ” tab to explore a list of all available options.
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Resource roundup about European refugees, the incarceration of Japanese Americans, and more during WWII
Essay, activities and resources about South Asian American history during a critical time period, including their experiences, struggles and contributions.
Lesson plans and resources about the deportation of Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the 1930s and the Dust Bowl "refugees."
Lesson plans and resources about the role of immigration and immigrants during the American Revolution
Lesson plans and resources about the role of immigration and immigrants during the Reconstruction Era
Video of a teen refugee talking about his experiences in Syria, as a high school student in Connecticut, and more
Printable reading guides and activities for books that amplify the experiences of first generation families
Develop stronger relationships with immigrant students and families, use literature to teach about immigration, and more
Resources, lessons and activities to bring South Asian American history and stories into the classroom
Free curriculum offers six lessons for educators, high school students and college students on what it means to be American
An interactive digital storytelling project to show how immigrants are our neighbors to be encountered and embraced
Short, free videos that connect immigration's past and present; includes lesson plans and resources for teachers
Curriculum for creating short videos of personal or family migration stories in a classroom or public workshop setting
Three-unit curriculum for grades eight to adult using a library of original video stories made by immigrants and refugees
Selection of books about immigrants and refugees that includes varied racial/cultural representation and a focus on #OwnVoices
Syllabus with a chronological overview of U.S. immigration history and salient current issues such as xenophobia and deportation policy
Teaching activities and resources reflecting the lens of history used in best-selling book "A People’s History of the United States"
Resource guide with three workshops for K-12 educators to introduce their students to Latin American and Caribbean art forms
Resource guide with three workshops for K-12 educators to use Latin American and Caribbean music to engage with civic issues
Collection of short videos and accompanying curriculum following the lives and challenges of DACA recipients
Common Core-aligned lesson plan about writing digital stories to create empathy and understanding about immigration
Resources to help learners develop an informed perspective on our shared experiences of migration before, during and after the journey
Resources that support multi-state History-Social Studies and English Language Arts and can be used with or without a museum visit
Professional development programs and resources to help make global civics and cultural education a part of every student’s experience
Dozens of rich, engaging resources to teach about immigration policy, history and awareness with preK through 12 students
Sixteen-part series of readings and tools to support education, research and action to examine the U.S. immigration detention system
Lessons based on the art and story of one Holocaust survivor connect to contemporary human migration and human rights issues
K-12 lessons that promote critical thinking and learning around historical and current diversity and social justice topics
Online platform for students age 3-19 from diverse geographic and socioeconomic settings to have a collective learning experience
User-friendly lesson plans designed to promote social justice, community building, and youth empowerment and voice
| Title | Description | Tags | Author |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Across Cultures Book Guides How To | Learn how to use the Community Across book guides to lead effective read-alouds | early childhood, elementary school, book list | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Community Across Cultures Book Guide for Thank You, Omu! | Guide for reading Thank You, Omu! to children | early childhood, elementary school, book list | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Community Across Cultures Book Guide for Gibberish | Guides for reading Thank You, Omu! and Gibberish to children | early childhood, elementary school, book list | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Community Across Cultures Book Guide for The Name Jar | Guide for reading The Name Jar to children | early childhood, elementary school, book list | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Community Across Cultures Book Guide for Here I Am | Guide for reading Here I Am to children | early childhood, elementary school, book list | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Community Across Cultures Book Guide for The Day You Begin | Guide for reading The Day You Begin to children | early childhood, elementary school, book list | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| 2023 Immigrant Student Success Toolkit | Resources and strategies from 2023 Immigrant Student Success conference | toolkit, elementary school, middle school, high school, adult education | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Understanding the Refugee Experience: Welcome to the New World | Video of a teen refugee talking about his experiences in Syria, as a high school student in Connecticut, and more | high school, middle school, video, social studies | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Welcome to the New World Curriculum and Learning Guide | Curriculum about refugees, the migrant experience, the Syrian Civil War and other topical issues | high school, lesson plan, middle school, social studies, English language arts | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| South Asian Immigration to the United States, 1899-1923 | Essay, activities and resources about South Asian American history during a critical time period, including their experiences, struggles and contributions. | high school, lesson plan, middle school, social studies | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Teaching Immigration World War II | Resource roundup about European refugees, the incarceration of Japanese Americans, and more during World War II | elementary, middle school, high school, lesson plan, middle school, social studies | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Teaching Immigration and the Great Depression | Lesson plans and resources about the deportation of Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the 1930s and the Dust Bowl “refugees.” | high school, lesson plan, middle school, social studies | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Teaching Immigration and World War I | Lesson plans and resources about the impact of WWI and its aftermath on immigrants and immigration | high school, lesson plan, middle school, social studies | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Teaching Chinese Immigration in the 19th Century | Lesson plans and resources to teach about Chinese immigration in the 19th century | high school, lesson plan, middle school, social studies | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Teaching Immigration and Reconstruction | Lesson plans and resources about the role of immigration and immigrants during the Reconstruction Era | high school, lesson plan, middle school, social studies | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Teaching Immigration and the American Revolution | Lesson plans and resources about the role of immigration and immigrants during the American Revolution | high school, lesson plan, middle school, social studies | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Teaching Immigration and the Civil War | Lesson plans and resources about the role of immigration and immigrants during the Civil War | high school, lesson plan, middle school, social studies | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| 2022 Immigrant Student Success Toolkit | Resources and highlights from the 2022 Immigrant Student Success conference | toolkit, elementary school, high school, middle school | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Use Immigration Narratives to Build a Sense of Belonging in Classrooms | Blog post on thoughtfully engaging with your students’ immigration stories in the classroom | article/report, elementary school, high school, middle school | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Professional Development Module: Immigration in Elementary Schools | Develop stronger relationships with immigrant students and families, use literature to teach about immigration, and more | elementary school, on-demand learning | CUNY Initiative on Immigration and Education |
| Immigrant Heritage Month Lessons and Resources | Lessons and resources to use during Immigrant Heritage Month | website, elementary school, middle school, high school | Share My Lesson |
| What Does it Mean to be an American? | Free curriculum offers six lessons for educators, high school students and college students on what it means to be American | website, middle school, high school | Mineta Legacy Project and SPICE |
| South Asian American Digital Archive Resources for Educators | Resources, lessons, and activities to support high school and college-level educators in bringing South Asian American history and stories into the classroom | website, high school, adult and higher education, lesson plan | South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA) |
| Teach East Africa | Lessons, videos and more for teaching about East Africa | website, elementary school, middle school, high school, lesson plan, video | Howard University Center for African Studies and Boston University Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, African Studies Center |
| Immersion: A Short Fiction Film | Short film and lesson plans about a 10-year-old boy who has just immigrated from Mexico | video, middle school, high school, adult and higher education, social justice and civics | Richard Levien, Director |
| Immigration Videos and Lesson Plans | Short, free videos that connect immigration’s past and present; includes lesson plans and resources for teachers | video, lesson plan, middle school, high school | Retro Report |
| Making a Digital Story | Curriculum for creating short videos of personal or family migration stories in a classroom or public workshop setting | adult and higher education, high school, lesson plan, website | Immigration History Research Center |
| Book List: Immigrant/Refugee | Selection of books about immigrants and refugees that includes varied racial/cultural representation and a focus on #OwnVoices | website, early childhood, elementary school, English language arts | Diverse Book Finder |
| Immigrant History Initiative Lesson Plans | User-friendly lesson plans designed to promote social justice, community building, and youth empowerment and voice | social studies, elementary school, middle school, high school, lesson plan | Immigrant History Initiative |
| Angel Island Curriculum Guides | Curriculum and other resources for teaching about the history of Angel Island | social studies, lesson plan, elementary school, middle school, high school | Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation |
| The Asian American Education Project | Lesson plans for grades K-12 and PD about Asian American history | social studies, lesson plan, elementary school, middle school, high school | The Asian American Education Project |
| Immigration Resource Library | More than 100 lesson plans and resources on global migration from Facing History and Ourselves | social studies, English language arts, social justice and civics, elementary school, middle school, high school | Facing History and Ourselves |
| Out of Eden Learn | Online platform for students age 3-19 from diverse geographic and socioeconomic settings to have a collective learning experience | website, elementary school, middle school, high school | Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education |
| Anti-Defamation League Immigration Lesson Plans | K-12 lessons that promote critical thinking and learning around historical and current diversity and social justice topics | lesson plan, elementary school, middle school, high school, social studies, social justice and civics | Anti-Defamation League |
| Art & Remembrance Lesson Plans | Lessons based on the art and story of one Holocaust survivor connect to contemporary human migration and human rights issues | social studies, English language arts, art, social justice and civics, lesson plan, elementary school, middle school, high school | Art & Remembrance |
| The Immigration Detention Syllabus | Sixteen-part series of readings and tools to support education, research and action to examine the U.S. immigration detention system | social studies, lesson plan, high school, adult and higher education | Freedom for Immigrants |
| Islamic Networks Group Lessons | Several lessons for middle school through college audiences, teaching about Muslims and their faith | religion, social studies, lesson plan, middle school, high school | Islamic Networks Group |
| Share My Lesson Immigration Lesson Plans and Resources | Dozens of rich, engaging resources to teach about immigration policy, history and awareness with preK through 12 students | social studies, lesson plan, early childhood, elementary school, middle school, high school | Share My Lesson |
| Learning for Justice Immigration Lessons | Lesson plans centered around the topic of immigration | social studies, English language arts, lesson plan, elementary school, middle school, high school | Learning for Justice |
| Teach Immigration Lesson Plans | K-12 lesson plans on U.S. immigration from Teaching Immigration | social studies, English language arts, lesson plan, elementary school, middle school, high school | Teach Immigration |
| Neighbors, Not Strangers | An interactive digital storytelling project to show how immigrants are our neighbors to be encountered and embraced | website, high school, adult and higher education | Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) |
| Public Broadcasting Lessons on Immigration | Lesson plans, videos, audio and documents about U.S. immigration from PBS | science, social studies, math, English language arts, health and wellness, lesson plan, early childhood, elementary school, middle school, high school | PBS Learning Media |
| Primary Source | Professional development programs and resources to help make global civics and cultural education a part of every student’s experience | social studies, website, elementary school, middle school, high school | Primary Source |
| Tenement Museum Lesson Plans | Resources that support multi-state History-Social Studies and English Language Arts and can be used with or without a museum visit | social studies, English language arts, lesson plan, elementary school, middle school, high school | Tenement Museum |
| Understanding Migration | Resources to help learners develop an informed perspective on our shared experiences of migration before, during and after the journey | social studies, English language arts, website, elementary school, middle school, high school | Re-Imagining Migration |
| Global Boston Lesson Plans | A growing set of resources for educators on immigration history in Greater Boston | social studies, website, high school, lesson plan | Global Boston |
| Latin American Resource Guide, Professional Development Series, Vol. 1 | Resource guide with three workshops for K-12 educators to introduce their students to Latin American and Caribbean art forms | arts, elementary school, middle school, high school, article/report | Institute of Latin American Studies; Urban Arts Partnership |
| Latin American Resource Guide, Professional Development Series, Vol. 2 | Resource guide with three workshops for K-12 educators to use Latin American and Caribbean music to engage with civic issues | arts, elementary school, middle school, high school, article/report | Institute of Latin American Studies; Urban Arts Partnership |
| Immigration History | Galleries, articles and videos on immigration throughout U.S. history | social studies, website, elementary school, middle school, high school | History.com |
| Immigration Stories of Yesterday and Today | Interactive tours, virtual field trips, immigrant stories, immigration data and more from Scholastic | social studies, English language arts, website, elementary school, middle school | Scholastic |
| Crossing Borders with Digital Storytelling | Common Core-aligned lesson plan about writing digital stories to create empathy and understanding about immigration | English language arts, digital literacy, elementary school, middle school, high school, adult and higher education, lesson plan | Common-Core aligned immigration lesson plan developed by the AIC’s Community Education Center |
| Becoming Us | Collection of resources for teaching inclusive and accurate immigration narratives | English language arts, social studies, middle school, high school | National Museum of American History |
| Waking Dream Curricula | Collection of short videos and accompanying curriculum following the lives and challenges of DACA recipients | English language arts, social studies, lesson plan, middle school, high school, adult and higher education | iNation Media |
| Waking Dream Episodes | Six-episode series showing the reality of young people in the DACA program | English language arts, social studies, video, middle school, high school, adult and higher education | Indie Lens Storycast |
| Teaching People’s History | Teaching activities and resources reflecting the lens of history used in best-selling book “A People’s History of the United States” | English language arts, high school, middle school, social studies, website | Zinn Education Project |
| Teaching Central America | Free downloadable lessons, bios, and poetry and prose from Central American writers | social studies, English language arts, science, website, elementary school, middle school, high school | Teaching for Change |
| Reading Guides for First Generation Family Books | Printable reading guides and activities for books that amplify the experiences of first generation families | social studies, English language arts, website, lesson plans, early childhood, elementary school, middle school, high school | Modern Marigold Books |
| Reading Guides for South Asia Books | Printable reading guides for children’s books about South Asia | social studies, English language arts, website, lesson plans, early childhood, elementary school, middle school, high school | Yali Books |
| Talking About Immigration: Classroom Resources | Classroom materials and lesson plans about immigration in the United States | social studies, English language arts, website, lesson plans, early childhood, elementary school, middle school, high school | Colorin Colorado |
| #ImmigrationSyllabus | Syllabus with a chronological overview of U.S. immigration history and salient current issues such as xenophobia and deportation policy | social studies, website, lesson plans, high school, adult and higher education | Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota and the Immigration and Ethnic History Society |
| Teaching Immigration with the Immigrant Stories Project | Three-unit curriculum for grades eight to adult using a library of original video stories made by immigrants and refugees | adult and higher education, high school, lesson plan, middle school, video, website | The Immigration History Research Center and The Advocates for Human Rights |
