They examine the contents of a trunk to determine what some immigrants chose to bring to their new homes in Minnesota. Finally, students imagine they are immigrants and decide what they might pack in their own trunks. Those who chose to settle in Minnesota brought their hopes and dreams as well as material goods. Students discover documents that show how traditions and contributions by different ethnic groups made Minnesota a land of diversity. In this lesson, students use primary sources such as letters, newspaper accounts, census records, photos, and other documents to gather information about various ethnic groups who chose to make Minnesota their new home.
Students decide how many groups to investigate.
Students play the roles of business owners and farm operators in Alexandria in the 1880s. One hour Surprise packages and new identities are at the center of this lesson. Students become kids from the 1910s and learn how children played, what chores they had to do, and what school was like. At appropriate times during the lesson, students open packages of artifacts that children would have been familiar with in 1910. One hour Students become members of real families listed in 1910 census reports from Pipestone, Isanti County or Duluth.