Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

Consider the topic of immigration from a global and historical perspective.

• Reference 3-4 notable migrations of people from one place to another.
• What kinds of events in history prompt migration of groups from one place to another?
• What goals might immigrant groups have in common?
• What conflicts and challenges might they experience in their journey and settlement?

Teaching Suggestion: Guidance and suggestions may be necessary, depending on the ages and backgrounds represented in the class. Encourage students to reach for connections in all time periods; examples might include the Celts who emigrated to Britain in prehistoric times, the “barbarian” invasions of the Roman Empire, the colonization of early America, later waves of immigrants to America in the 19th and early 20th centuries, post-WWII migration, and Cuban refugees who came to America in the 1960s.

Guide students to note that sometimes “migration” as a term may refer to voluntary movement (i.e., immigrants seeking to escape oppression or find greater opportunity) or it may refer to forced movement (slavery, indentured servants, relocation of Native peoples).