Migrants in the Media lesson plan

Goal: To help students understand the rights of migrants, and how the U.S. is doing in fulfilling those rights.

Objectives:

• Students will learn what it means to be a migrant.
• Students will gain a general understanding of the rights of migrants as outlined by U.S. law and international human rights treaties.
• Students will research and identify news articles relating to migrant rights in the U.S.
• Students will analyze news articles and other media from a human rights perspective to determine how well the U.S. is fulfilling the rights of migrants.

Essential Question: How is the U.S. doing in fulfilling the rights of migrants?

Time Frame: 2-3 class periods

Grade Level: 9-12

Minnesota High School Social Studies Standards:

• World History, I, #1: Students will examine human rights principles and how they have been supported and violated in the late 20th century.
• Government and Citizenship, A, #1: Students will demonstrate the ability to use print and electronic media to do research and analyze data.
• Government and Citizenship, B, # 1: Students will define and provide examples of fundamental principles and core values of American political and civic life.
• Government and Citizenship, B, # 2: Students will examine the tension between the government’s dual role of protecting individual rights and promoting the general welfare, the tension between majority rule and minority rights, and analyze the conflict between diversity and unity which is captured in the concept "E Pluribus Unum."
• Geography, C, #2: Students will provide examples of the impact of political boundaries on human behavior and economic activities.