American History

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

1. What do you know about Puerto Rico or Puerto Rican immigration to the mainland United States? If you’re unfamiliar with Puerto Rican immigration, what experiences do you have with immigration and migrants?

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt may help students access background knowledge to prepare them for reading about immigrants in Paterson, New Jersey. This prompt may also prepare them to consider themes of Migration and Displacement, Changing Demographics in Northern Communities, and Racism and Ethnic Discrimination as they read.

• This page from the Library of Congress discusses Puerto Rican immigration to the United States.
• This short interview with a Puerto Rican immigrant who settled in Paterson, New Jersey, provides a real-life account that connects to the theme of Migration and Displacement,

2. How did the migration of minority groups to northern cities affect the demographics of these cities? How do you imagine the citizens of these cities reacted to the Changing Demographics of Northern Communities?

Teaching Suggestion: Accessing students’ prior knowledge of migration patterns in the United States, particularly after the Civil War and World War II, can prepare them for the social dynamics presented in “American History.”

• “Working in Paterson: Occupational Heritage in an Urban Setting” from the Library of Congress provides primary sources such as photos, interviews, and articles about Paterson, New Jersey, and will help prepare students for the theme of Changing Demographics in Northern Communities.

Short Activity

Choose a momentous event that affected your community, city, or country. Write about what you remember that day. What were you doing when you heard the news? How did it affect you? How did it affect other people in your life?

Teaching Suggestion: “American History” tells of Elena’s experience on the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Having students reflect on their experience with a significant event and how they remember the day might help them connect with Elena’s experience. You may want to remind students that they only need to share what they are comfortable sharing.

• This article from Psychology Today explores why people remember their experiences with shocking news so vividly.

Differentiation Suggestion: Some students may benefit from a graphic organizer or mind map to help them organize their thoughts. Other students may prefer to illustrate their experience or explain it as a comic.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the story.

How have you encountered racism or discrimination? How do racism and discrimination affect the United States? In what ways are racism and discrimination clear? In what ways are they more subtle?

Teaching Suggestion: This can be a sensitive topic to broach with students, but discussing some of the complexities and subtleties of racism and discrimination can prepare students to connect with and comprehend Elena’s experiences in “American History.”