The Land of Opportunity
WINTER, 2006-2007
Why did people come to America? Why did immigrants settle in Rochester? The fifth grade looked at local businesses of long ago and the effects of those businesses on the economy, work force, and population. Students explored the experiences of immigrants in the past as well as today.
As a service to the community, each student interviewed an immigrant living in the Rochester area, then paid tribute to that individual by writing his or her biography. The biography focused on the individual's homeland, journey to Rochester, and life in America today, and included photographed and sketched portraits. A music and dance presentation accompanied the presentation of the biographies.
The expedition concluded with a case study of a garment factory in New York City, giving the students an in-depth experience into the working conditions and the strategies used by progressive reformers. Fieldwork will focus on both immigration and industrialization near the turn of the twentieth century.
