International Migrants Day Lesson Plan

History

On December 18, 1990, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.

On December 4, 2000, the General Assembly established December 18 as International Migrants Day.

On September 19, 2016 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (NY Declaration), committing to strengthen and enhance ways to protect migrants and refugees.

Students watch one or all of the following films on the issues of immigration and migration, then consider the discussion questions and activities.

Discussion Questions and Activities

1. Why is it important that groups such as HIAS exist to help refugees globally? Research other organizations that help refugees and share their stories with MY HERO. 

2. Gray Areas explored the issue of the deportation of undocumented people to Mexico. What are the consequences of this policy? Do you know anyone who has been affected by deportation? Share their story with MY HERO. Consider filming an interview.                                  

3. Madres y Familias and Veterans for Peace, two organizations in Mexico working to assist people affected by deportation, were featured in the film Gray Areas. Identify organizations in the United States assisting those individuals and families who have been affected by immigration policies.     

4. Research the immigration policies today in the United States. Discuss the pros and cons of these policies. Do you feel strongly about this issue? How can you get involved? 

5. When did your family immigrate to the United States? Interview relatives to learn about the members of your family who immigrated to the United States. What challenges did they face and how did they overcome them? Share their story with MY HERO. Consider filming interviews to create a video of your family's story to submit.  

Students read the story and watch the film about Right to Play, an organization started by Norwegian Olympic Gold medalist speed-skater Johann Olav Koss that brings games and joy to refugee children in Africa. Then students consider the discussion questions and activities. 

 This story is in text with audio allowing students to listen as they read along - Great for ESL/EFL Students. 

Students read the story and watch the film to learn about Chukou Thoa. He started the National Hmong American Farmers to assist a community of farmers, originally made up of refugees from Laos after the Vietnam War, who were being discriminated against. Students then consider the discussion questions and activities. 

Students read the following stories about refugee and migrant heroes, and those who have helped people in these situations, before considering the discussion questions and activities.

Two stories are available in text and audio allowing students the opportunity to listen as they read along. 

Great for ESL and EFL Students

Great for ESL/EFL Students

These two stories are available in text with audio so students can listen as they read along. 

Discussion Questions and Activities

1. The Soehardis Roslin Orphanage and the Right to Play organization help refugee children. What other organizations or people work to help refugee children around the world? Share their story with MY HERO.

2. Dorothea Lange is a photojournalist who documented the lives of sharecroppers, displaced farm families and migrant workers in the United States during the Depression. Research her photographs. Which ones do you feel a reaction to? Discuss the story Lange was telling by these photographs. 

3. Chukou Thao created the National Hmong American Farmers organization to assist farmers who originally came from Laos after the Vietnam War as refugees and were being discriminated against. What other organizations work to help refugees in the United States? Share their story with MY HERO.

4. Cesar Chavez fought for the rights of migrant farm workers. Who today is working to improve and protect migrant workers. Share his or her story with MY HERO.

5.  Judith Ann Mayotte overcame adversity and devoted her life to shining a light on the global refugee crisis. Do you know anyone who has overcome adversity and made a positive difference in the world? Share his or her story with MY HERO.

Mural art, created as a cross-cultural activity, reveals the beauty in diversity and the stories that immigration brings to a community. 

Students analyze the murals below and are encouraged to work together to create a mural that showcases the heritage of where they live or their families to submit to the MY HERO Gallery. 

Outstanding essays submitted to MY HERO will be considered for a certificate/t-shirt prize or be featured on the Story Homepage.

Submit your artwork to be entered in the MY HERO art contest or to be exhibited on our Gallery Homepage.

Students can submit their films for free with a waiver to the MY HERO International Film Festival.