Poor Living Conditions in America

for Immigrants in the late 1800’s and Early 1900’s

A Webquest by:

Ms. Joyce Dawkins

All Saints School

8^th Grade

Social Studies

j.dawkins@allsaintschool.org

In the mid 1800’s many people from all over the world immigrated to American shores. Most specifically many of those immigrants moved to New York City, Chicago and other urban communities. During this time there were many problems. One of the biggest problems at that time was poor living conditions.

In groups of four (one group will have five) you will investigate poor living conditions in urban areas during the mid 1800’s and early 1900’s. You will research the problem and will follow the six steps of the Public Policy Analyst to come up with new possible policy solutions for this problem. Each group will be responsible for producing a 3-5 page written report and will prepare for an oral presentation to be given to the entire class.

The written report will inform the other groups of the problems you found. The oral report will present the policy solution that your group came up with.

Step 1: Your teacher will divide class into groups of four designating one student to serve as Group Leader.

Step 2: Your group will complete the six-step Public Policy Analyst to investigate the issues of discrimination of the mentally challenged in America.

· Identify the nature of a social problem

· Gather evidence to support the existence of the problem

· Determine the causes and factors contributing to the problem

· Evaluating existing public policies

· Developing public policy solutions

· Selecting the best public policy solution

Step 3: Using the public policy solution determined by your group, write 3-5 page written report including your new best public policy solution.

Step 4: Your group will now prepare to present an oral presentation to the class. Remember to include your research findings and any pictures or other graphic representations you have. The class will then score your performance based on the rubric provided below.

http://www.newcolonist.com/pullman_addams.html

http://www.harrisonburg.k12.va.us/hhs/socstu/sarvermontschap13and14.htm

http://www.proteacher.com/cgi-bin/outsidesite.cgi?external=http://www.eduplace.com/ss/hmss/8/unit/act6.1.html&original=http://www.proteacher.com/090024.shtml&title=Daily%20Life%20in%20the%20Poor%20Industrial%20Cities

Written Report Rubric

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Research	Accurate and use of text information	Accurate and adequate research	Weak research information	Research information is inaccurate or incomplete
Content	All ideas are clearly written and flow logically	All ideas are clearly written; more information was needed	Ideas show a weak structure and do not flow smoothly	Little, if any, develop-ment of supporting ideas
Writing	Sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation; minimal or no spelling errors	Sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation, minor errors in spelling	Sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation; frequent minor errors in spelling.	Sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation show frequent  errors; Frequent misspelling of commonly used words.

Oral Presentation Rubric

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Content	Shows a full understanding of the topic.	Shows a good understanding of the topic.	Shows little understanding of parts of the topic.	Does not seem to understand the topic very well.
Pictures or Graphics	Student uses several pictures or graphics that show considerable work/creativity and which make the presentation better.	Student uses 1 picture or graphic that shows considerable work/creativity and which make the presentation better.	Student uses 1 picture or graphic which makes the presentation better.	The student uses no pictures or graphics
Speaks Clearly	Speaks clearly and distinctly all the time.	Speaks clearly and distinctly most of the time,	Speaks clearly and distinctly some of the time.	Often mumbles or can not be understood
Collaboration with Peers	Almost always listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others in the group. Is a good team member.	Usually listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others in the group. Is a good team member.	Often listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others in the group but sometimes is not a good team member.	Rarely listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others in the group. Often is not a good team member.

English Language Arts

Standard 1: Students will listen, speak, read, and write for information and

understanding; they will collect data, facts, and ideas and use

electronically produced texts.

Standard 4: Students will listen, speak, read, and write for social interaction.

Social Studies Standards:

• Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas and themes.
• Students will demonstrate their understanding of the necessity for establishing government and laws.
• Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to understand the roles, rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

You have now researched the social problem of poor living conditions for immigrants in America in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. You have learned about the issue of poor living conditions as a result of being and immigrant. You are now an able to do research and apply it to the six steps of being a public policy analyst.