Debates over U.S. immigration policy, and the xenophobia that often accompanies such debates, are once again center stage. Policy debates are often dominated by statistics and stereotypes, both of which can dehumanize those under examination. This lesson brings the personal stories of migrants back into the debate. As a springboard for discussion, it uses clips from Voices of the Sea, a film about a Cuban family divided on whether or not to emigrate. After researching the history or current situation in a nation from which people have emigrated to the U.S. in large numbers, students will write an imagined dialogue between family members considering whether to make the journey. In the process, they'll consider what motivates people to leave their homes or stay.

OBJECTIVES
In this lesson, students will:

• Learn the general history of immigration to the U.S. from Castro's Cuba
• Write an imagined dialogue
• Gain insight that can inform their thinking on current debates about how the U.S. should treat immigrants

GRADE LEVELS: 9-10

SUBJECT AREAS

Research Skills, English/Language Arts, Global Studies

MATERIALS

• Film clips from Voices of the Sea and the equipment to screen them
• Hard copy handout or Internet access of general history of Cuban immigration (see links below)
• Internet access for research

ESTIMATED TIME NEEDED
One class period plus homework

Pre-requisite: Either in class or as homework prior to the lesson, ask students to read a general history of Cuban immigration to the U.S. since the rise of Castro in 1959. This could be the Background Information section of POV's discussion guide for Voices of the Sea, one of the Resources listed in this lesson plan, or even Wikipedia. Your choice should reflect the reading level and research skills of your students.

Step 1: The Assignment

Ask students what they know about current immigration issues facing the U.S. - not their opinions; just the issues people are debating.

After a very brief discussion (including any clarifications you might need to offer), explain to students they are going to do a writing exercise that asks them to think about why people emigrate from their home countries.

Give them the assignment:

• In dialogue form, script a conversation between people deciding whether or not to migrate to the U.S. (Based on the skill level of your students, you can determine the minimum length required).
• There must be at least two people involved in the conversation, but it is okay to include more. The conversation could be between spouses, friends, parents and children - whomever you wish. The people can be from any country you choose.
• The dialogue should reflect the realities of the country you choose (i.e., the reader/listener should know what nation the people are from). You will need to research what is happening/has happened in the country you choose in order to make your dialogue realistic.
• You can choose the year.* (*If the class has been studying a particular time period, you may want to require that the dialogue takes place during that era).

Let students know the due date.

Step 2: Cuba

To help students prepare, tell them you are going to share with them clips from a documentary - Voices of the Sea - that features a wife and husband who currently live in Cuba and are contemplating leaving as they watch friends and family emigrate. Mariela is in her thirties and the mother of four. Pita, her second husband, is older and a third generation fisherman.

To provide context for the clips, ask what students learned from their reading on the general history of migration from Cuba. Be sure they understand the special status that Cuban immigrants have enjoyed in the U.S. (and the reason for that special treatment), the "wet foot, dry foot" policy, and the current policy.

Step 3: The Video Clips

As they view each clip, students should pay attention to the issues that Mariela and Pita discuss. What factors are important to them? Is their decision easy or difficult? What do they say or do that lets you know how they feel, as well as what they think?

Show the four clips, pausing briefly after each so students may share reactions.

After the final clip, ask students to choose countries and time periods and, as time allows, let them start researching and writing.

[Optional] Step 4: Reflection

On the day that students turn in their dialogues, give them time to do a free write reflection on the relationship between the assignment and current events. What did they learn about why people choose to leave their own countries and come to the U.S.? Is that decision typically easy or difficult? How do their new insights influence their thinking about current immigration policy and how the U.S. should handle immigrants or refugees?

Craft one or more of the student dialogues into a short play and perform it.

Research and share family and/or community oral histories from people who emigrated to the U.S.

Compare/contrast work from the lesson with at least three different mainstream media depictions of immigrants.

Read a literary version of an immigrant story (e.g., Anzia Yezierska's Bread Givers, Maxine Hong Kingston's The Woman Warrior, Victor Villasenor's Rain of Gold, or one of the titles from POV's Delve Deeper Reading List for Voices of the Sea).

Assign students to investigate the legal difference between "immigrant" and "refugee." Write position papers on current U.S. policy on admission of each group.

Engage in a more in-depth examination of Cuba's history.

RESOURCES

POV: Voices of the Sea

http://www.pbs.org/pov/voicesofthesea/discussion-guide - The site includes a general discussion guide with additional activity ideas.

Pew Research Center

pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/01/13/cuban-immigration-to-u-s-surges-as-relations-warm/ - Details of Cuban immigration to the U.S. since the Obama Administration began normalizing relations with Cuba.

Migration Policy Institute

migrationpolicy.org/article/cuban-immigrants-united-states - An overview of Cuban migration to the U.S.

POV: Media Literacy Questions for Analyzing POV Films

http://www.pbs.org/pov/educators/media-literacy.php

This list of questions provides a useful starting point for leading rich discussions that challenge students to think critically about documentaries.

STANDARDS

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects(http://www.corestandards.org/assets/CCSSI_ELA%20Standards.pdf)

W.9-10.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

W.9-10.7
Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

SL.11-12.6  Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating a command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

This resource was created, in part, with the generous support of the Open Society Foundation and Latino Public Broadcasting.