2.7 – Think and Apply Activity 2
Before beginning this activity, review this brief summary of the reading text for Module 2: Immigration and Global Human Movement.
Immigration has played a big part in U.S. history, with people arriving for freedom, opportunity, and work, while others, like Africans, were brought by force as enslaved people. Despite facing discrimination, immigrants from many countries have contributed significantly to building the nation’s economy and culture. Today, immigrants continue to make the U.S. stronger with many languages, traditions, and ideas.
As a class, watch the video “Immigrant Myths” and discuss (9 1/2 min – watch all or just a part!).
How would you answer this question: “What do you wish people knew about immigrants?” Discuss in pairs or small groups; then share your answers with the class.
Study Information Using Graphs
Data and information can be shared in the form of an article, like in our module text. It can also be shared in a video, picture or image. For example, we can learn a lot of information by analyzing charts and graphs.
Graphs are just another way that information is organized. There are different kinds of charts and graphs (pie chart, line graph)–the example below is called a bar graph.
- Look at the Practice with Graphs Activity as a class. When you read a bar graph, be sure to do the following:
- Read the title or heading of the graph first to know what information will be shared.
- Read the labels along the bottom horizontal line (left to right – called the “X” axis). What information is being measured or shown?
- Read the labels along the left vertical line (up and down – called the “Y” axis). What information is being measured or shown?
- Look for information about what the colors represent.
- Read any other words that have been written around the graph.
- Study the data carefully to get information or answer questions. What do you notice? What is changing or staying the same? Does any of the information surprise you?
Note: “Americas” may refer to Central and South America.
[Credit] 4. Use the questions below to interpret the bar graph above.
- What is the title of the graph?
- What do the numbers on the bottom horizontal line (“X” axis – left to right) represent?
- What do the numbers on the left vertical line (“Y” axis – up and down) represent?
- What area does the light blue color represent? What area does the purple color represent?
- Did more immigrants come from the Americas or Asia in 1960?
- Did the number of immigrants from Europe increase or decrease from 1990 to 2000?
- About what percent of immigrants came from the Americas in 1980?
- Did any of this information surprise you?
