Historica Canada Education Portal

The student will create a document demonstrating empathy with the experiences of immigrants to Canada.

Time Allowance: 3 hours

Procedures:

Activity: An Immigrant’s Letter Home

Outcome
The student will create a document demonstrating empathy with the experiences of immigrants to Canada.

Content
Immigrants underwent a variety of experiences as they adjusted to life in a new land. Many would never return to their countries of origin, and their only contact with family was through letters sent across vast distances. To help students understand the emotions of these settlers they are asked to create a letter depicting the fictionalized or authentic experiences of immigrants. These letters will show the reactions of immigrants to their new homes.

Process
· The student selects a country of origin and a time period in which emigration to Canada took place.

· Using resources found on The Canadian Encyclopedia and other sites the student researches the lives of selected individuals: forces leading to emigration, the actual physical movement, their settlement, and how they are or are not accepted in the new community.

· The letter will be between 300-400 words, meeting the criteria outlined on the attached outline.

· Students will have three class periods (3 hours) to complete the assignment