Immigration Nation
Teacher Resources

Immigration Nation: The American Identity in the Twenty-First Century

Illustrated by Richard Chapman
What is an immigrant? How have immigrants shaped the United States? Immigration Nation: The American Identity in the Twenty-First Century invites middle and high school students to explore the history of immigration in the United States and follow the stories of people who have made the journey to this country through the perspectives of immigrants, citizens, policy makers, and border agents.
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Reviews

A Skipping Stones Honor Award Winner for Multicultural and International Books

School Library Connections
For students or teachers looking for an entry into the controversial topic of immigration, this book broaches the subject through the lens of history and sociology, individual stories of immigrants, the laws of the United States, and arguments on both sides of the issue. The book opens with a timeline spanning 1607 to 2045, with 2045 pinpointing the year when non-Hispanic whites will no longer be the majority ethnic group in the United States. . . This is a very interactive source on an issue about which people have extremely strong feelings. It would make for excellent supplemental material in social studies classes, as well as a great research resource for papers and speeches. Recommended

Booklist
 “. . . the Inquire & Investigate Social Issues of the Twentieth Century series offers facts, historical perspective, and useful suggestions for young people studying key issues in America today. The writers encourage further study and thoughtful consideration of their books’ subjects, which have all seen shifts in political rhetoric and public perception over time. Besides presenting each topic, they challenge readers to engage in critical thinking and consider questions from various people’s points of view. The illustrations include many photos as well as cartoons. The books’ large format accommodates a good deal of information in the very readable main texts, while side margins carry related pictures, vocabulary features, and brief introductions to noteworthy figures and events. . . Immigration Nation looks at procedures and varied views on U.S. immigration today, as well as personal stories and statistics showing changes over time. Well organized information and practical help for students researching significant social issues.”

Praise for Human Migration: Investigate the Global Journey of Humankind by Judy Dodge Cummings

Publishers Weekly
"The story of human migration is an old tale, far older than the written world," explains Cummings in this exploration of the global movements of people throughout history, part of the Inquire and Investigate series. Alongside playful comic strip entries from Casteel, Cummings looks at migratory patterns that include early Homo sapiens leaving Africa, scientific debate over how humans traveled from Asia to Australia, and the colonization of the New World. Throughout, Cummings notes how archaeological finds shed light on people's patterns of movement and highlights the motivations behind migration, whether forced or voluntary. Sidebars, reader-directed questions, and activity ideas offer additional ways for readers to consider how recent instances of migration from countries like Syria compare to those from centuries past. A timely and useful resource." Read the entire review online.

 School Library Connection
"
At first glance, the contents of the book present themselves on an elementary level; however, the topics covered and some of the features offered might make more sense to older students. Three of the special features of the book are primary source extensions that encourage students to use their smartphones or tablets to explore resources further, vocabulary labs that help the students learn new words related to the topic, and Inquire & Investigate labs that are hands-on activities students may do to really dig deeper. All of the words in the vocabulary labs are defined in a glossary in the back of the book. The book starts with a timeline, and ensuing chapters follow in chronological order. Index. Recommended"

 National Science Teachers Association Recommends
"Human Migration: Investigate the Global Journey of Humankind by Judy Dodge Cummings is a fascinating book to read for the reader of any age! Geared towards readers of ages 12-15, the book retraces the steps taken by our ancient ancestors starting in Africa... I highly recommend this well-written book. It covers topics in all of the sciences, from anthropology, to environmental science to biology as well as history and geography. This would be an excellent resource book for the middle school teacher." Read the entire review online.

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Detailed Book Description

What does it mean to be an immigrant today? Has the immigrant experience changed since the last century?

Immigration Nation: The American Identity in the Twenty-First Century invites middle and high schoolers to explore the history of immigration in the United States, along with immigration law and statistics through the perspectives of immigrants, citizens, policy makers, and border agents.

For more than a century, an immigrant from France has stood vigil in the New York Harbor. At 350 feet tall, with a majestic spiked crown upon her head, a tablet of laws clutched in one hand and a torch held aloft in the other, the lady is hard to miss. She cries out to the world, “Give me your tired, your poor…I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” Millions of immigrants have answered the Statue of Liberty’s call, passing over, under, or through the Golden Door to become Americans.

However, on the eve of its 250th birthday, the United States is in the middle of an identity crisis. Should this land of immigrants open the door open to outsiders, people hungry for opportunity and desperate for freedom? Or should the country shut the golden door, barring entry to all but a select few? And what does it mean to be an American? How citizens answer these questions in the early twenty-first century will determine the future of America’s identity.

Immigration Nation includes critical-thinking activities and research exercises to encourage readers to dive deep into the topic and consider viewpoints from many different identities. interesting facts, links to online primary sources and other supplemental material, and essential questions take readers on an exploration of the past, present, and future of immigration.

Immigration Nation is part of a set of four books called Inquire & Investigate Social Issues of the Twenty-First Century, which explores the social challenges that have faced our world in the past and that continue to drive us to do better in the future. Other titles in this set are Gender Identity, Feminism, and Race Relations.

Try these critical-thinking activities

  • Chart the experience of immigrants who passed through Angel Island
  • Explore individual identity in a nation of immigrants
  • Analyze political cartoons, graffiti, and poetry
  • Calculate the value of the fruit and vegetables harvested by immigrant labor
Available In:
Hardcover, $22.95
9781619307605
Paperback, $17.95
9781619307636
Includes: Table of Contents | Timeline | Maps | Glossary | Resources | Index
Specs: 8 x 10 size | 4-color interior | 128 pages
Subject: Social Studies
Content Focus: U.S. History

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Timeline

Process of Legal Immigration Flow Chart

Introduction
The Golden Door

Chapter 1
A Backward Look

Chapter 2
The Gatekeepers

Chapter 3
The Push and the Pull

Chapter 4
The Welcome Mat

Chapter 5
America’s Changing Face

Chapter 6
Immigration Reform

Chapter 7
Out of Many, One

Glossary
Resources
Index