learning about migration: “the orphan train” using primary sources by terence madden

Learning About Migration: “The Orphan Train”

Using Primary Sources

Learning About Migration: “The Orphan Train”

Using Primary Sources

By Terence MaddenBy Terence Madden

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Objective:Objective:

Students will understand purpose and reasons for migration within the United States during the turn of the century.

Students will understand purpose and reasons for migration within the United States during the turn of the century.

Objective:Objective:

Students will focus on one migration in particular, children on the Orphan Train, an experience of moving children from the crowded big cities of the East like New York and Boston to the rural Midwest.

Students will focus on one migration in particular, children on the Orphan Train, an experience of moving children from the crowded big cities of the East like New York and Boston to the rural Midwest.

MaterialsMaterials

Website on background information on the historical orphan train experience. http://www.outfiters.com/~melissa/ot/ot.html

Seven primary resource photos Orphan Train advertisement Notice of Arrival, written by Sisters of Charity Worksheet: photo analysis Assessment worksheet

Website on background information on the historical orphan train experience. http://www.outfiters.com/~melissa/ot/ot.html

Seven primary resource photos Orphan Train advertisement Notice of Arrival, written by Sisters of Charity Worksheet: photo analysis Assessment worksheet

State of Michigan Learning StandardsState of Michigan Learning Standards

Social Studies Content Expectations:

GOAL 4: Human Systems Understand how human activities help

shape the earth's surface. 4 - G4.0.1 Use a case study or story

about migration within or to the United States to identify push and pull factors (why they left, why they came) that influenced the migration.

Social Studies Content Expectations:

GOAL 4: Human Systems Understand how human activities help

shape the earth's surface. 4 - G4.0.1 Use a case study or story

about migration within or to the United States to identify push and pull factors (why they left, why they came) that influenced the migration.

Immigration - Migration DefinedImmigration - Migration Defined

Migrate -

Immigrate -

Emigration -

Migrate -

Immigrate -

Emigration -

Immigration - Migration DefinedImmigration - Migration Defined

Migrate - to move from one place to another; to move from one region or country to another.

Immigration - the coming into a new country.

Emigration - the coming out of a country

Migrate - to move from one place to another; to move from one region or country to another.

Immigration - the coming into a new country.

Emigration - the coming out of a country

Orphan Trains

From about 1850 through the early twentieth century, thousands of children were transfered from the overcrowded orphanages and homes in the large cities in the northeastern United States, to live with families on farms throughout the middle West.

The name orphan train originates with the railroad trains that transported the children to their new homes. While some of the children were orphans, many of them had one or even two living parents. In those cases, the child's parents were unable or unwilling to care for them. Other parents believed their children would have a better life if sent to a caring family in the farmlands of the west. Many of the parents and children were immigrants who found life in America harder than they anticipated.

Orphan Trains

From about 1850 through the early twentieth century, thousands of children were transfered from the overcrowded orphanages and homes in the large cities in the northeastern United States, to live with families on farms throughout the middle West.

The name orphan train originates with the railroad trains that transported the children to their new homes. While some of the children were orphans, many of them had one or even two living parents. In those cases, the child's parents were unable or unwilling to care for them. Other parents believed their children would have a better life if sent to a caring family in the farmlands of the west. Many of the parents and children were immigrants who found life in America harder than they anticipated.

Orphan Trains continued

The goal of the orphan trains was to provide the children with a better life - many had fended for themselves on the streets of New York. Many were not babies, but were in their teens when sent West. The results were mixed. In some cases, as adults, the orphan train riders were very positive about their adoptive family, felt they were treated well, loved, and given a better chance in life. However, in many cases, the children were taken into a new home only for the work they were expected to do. Some were mistreated. In many cases, siblings were separated from each other and consequently, from the only family they knew.

Illinois became the new home of many of the children who rode the Orphan Trains. Although Orphan Trains originated in other eastern cities, this list of references focuses on three of the biggest agencies from New York City

New York Juvenile Asylum

Children's Aid Society of New York

New York Foundling Hospital (Roman Catholic)

Orphan Trains continued

The goal of the orphan trains was to provide the children with a better life - many had fended for themselves on the streets of New York. Many were not babies, but were in their teens when sent West. The results were mixed. In some cases, as adults, the orphan train riders were very positive about their adoptive family, felt they were treated well, loved, and given a better chance in life. However, in many cases, the children were taken into a new home only for the work they were expected to do. Some were mistreated. In many cases, siblings were separated from each other and consequently, from the only family they knew.

Illinois became the new home of many of the children who rode the Orphan Trains. Although Orphan Trains originated in other eastern cities, this list of references focuses on three of the biggest agencies from New York City

New York Juvenile Asylum

Children's Aid Society of New York

New York Foundling Hospital (Roman Catholic)

Getting StartedGetting Started

Why do individuals and families move from one place to another?

Why do individuals and families move from one place to another?


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Do most people freely choose to move?.

Do most people freely choose to move?.QuickTime™ and a



Did the Orphan Train children choose to move west?

Did the Orphan Train children choose to move west? QuickTime™ and a


Primary and Secondary SourcesPrimary and Secondary Sources

A Brief Overview - What is a primary resource? - What is a secondary source?

A Brief Overview - What is a primary resource? - What is a secondary source?

Primary SourcesPrimary Sources

A contemporary account of an event Written by someone who experienced or

witnessed an event Can be published or unpublished

A contemporary account of an event Written by someone who experienced or

witnessed an event Can be published or unpublished

Common Primary SourcesCommon Primary Sources

Diary Entries Magazine or Newspaper Articles Photographs Audio and Video Recordings Memoirs Speeches Interviews

Diary Entries Magazine or Newspaper Articles Photographs Audio and Video Recordings Memoirs Speeches Interviews

Analyzing Primary SourcesAnalyzing Primary Sources

Benefit of primary sources - First Hand accounts can provide details

into what it was like to live during the event

Disadvantage of primary sources - Primary sources are often influenced by human emotion

Benefit of primary sources - First Hand accounts can provide details

into what it was like to live during the event

Disadvantage of primary sources - Primary sources are often influenced by human emotion

Secondary SourcesSecondary Sources

A source written after the event occurred Combines research of many primary

sources Often a published work

A source written after the event occurred Combines research of many primary

sources Often a published work

Common Secondary SourcesCommon Secondary Sources

Classroom textbook Essays Biographies Documentaries Any books written about a period or

event in history

Classroom textbook Essays Biographies Documentaries Any books written about a period or

event in history

Analyzing Secondary SourcesAnalyzing Secondary Sources

Benefit of secondary sources - Author can combine several points of

view Disadvantage of secondary sources

- The author is not an eyewitness

Benefit of secondary sources - Author can combine several points of

view Disadvantage of secondary sources

- The author is not an eyewitness

Prime TimePrime Time

Here are two primary resource photos from the Library of Congress online “American Memory” collection entitled, “Immigrants on Atlantic Liner” and “Mulberry Street, New York City” from around 1900.

Here are two primary resource photos from the Library of Congress online “American Memory” collection entitled, “Immigrants on Atlantic Liner” and “Mulberry Street, New York City” from around 1900.

Observations and InferencesObservations and Inferences On board the liner, what are the people

wearing? Is it cold? They are all wearing overcoats, so it

must be cold In the Mulberry Street photo, there are

many people and carts in the street so they must be selling things.

There are no cars, so it must be a long time ago.

On board the liner, what are the people

wearing? Is it cold? They are all wearing overcoats, so it

must be cold In the Mulberry Street photo, there are

many people and carts in the street so they must be selling things.

There are no cars, so it must be a long time ago.

Student Activity - Photo AnalysisStudent Activity - Photo Analysis

There are between four to six students seated around five different tables. Every table will be given a different photo related to the Orphan Train experience to examine. The whole class therefore will be examining five different photos.

There are between four to six students seated around five different tables. Every table will be given a different photo related to the Orphan Train experience to examine. The whole class therefore will be examining five different photos.

Student Activity - ObservingStudent Activity - Observing

Take two minutes and then form an overall impression from the photo and the particulars of each photo.

List what you see on the photo analysis worksheet.

Take two minutes and then form an overall impression from the photo and the particulars of each photo.

List what you see on the photo analysis worksheet.

Student Activity - Making InferencesStudent Activity - Making Inferences

Now list things you can infer from this photograph, continuing with the photo analysis worksheet.

Now list things you can infer from this photograph, continuing with the photo analysis worksheet.

SharingSharing

Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Table 5

Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Table 5

AssessmentAssessment

Answer the questions on the Assessment paper.

Answer the questions on the Assessment paper.

Follow UpFollow Up

Next week we are going to read Eve Bunting's book, Train to Somewhere which describes a forced migration of orphans at the turn of the 20th century from a big city, New York, to rural and small city areas in the Midwest in the hopes of finding new homes.

Next week we are going to read Eve Bunting's book, Train to Somewhere which describes a forced migration of orphans at the turn of the 20th century from a big city, New York, to rural and small city areas in the Midwest in the hopes of finding new homes.

Great job!.Great job!.

Any Questions? Any Questions?

learning about migration: “the orphan train” using primary sources by terence madden

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