Document Study
- Explain that the students will now look at and analyze a set of primary sources from working-class, Jewish immigrants in the early 20th century.
- Give each student a set of documents. Have students examine the documents and answer the questions on the documents on their own or in pairs.
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Direct a class discussion around the following questions after students have had time to examine the documents:
- What makes a person independent?
- What kinds of language do the workers use to describe how they identified as workers?
- How do the workers in these texts form their American Jewish identities? Point to specific examples.
- Explain that young immigrants were often challenged by wanting to live their lives differently from their parents while still being respectful of and connected with their parents, and that the students are going to show that challenge in a piece of artwork or creative writing.
