Migrants in the U.S. and China

LESSON 1: MIGRANT WORKERS IN THE U.S. AND CHINA

Aim: What similarities and differences can we find between the situations of migrant children in China and in the United States?

Objectives:
· Students will read and understand newspaper articles;
· Students will explain what a migrant worker is;
· Students will compare and contrast similar situations in two different countries;
· Students will work in groups to analyze problems and decide on possible solutions;
· Students will understand and write about being a migrant child in China.

Materials:
· Clary, Mike. "A Better Way." Los Angeles Times Nov. 27, 1997.
· Irwin, James. "China's Migrant Children Fall Through the Cracks." UNESCO Sept. 2000. Website: www.unesco.org/courier/2000_9/uk/apprend.htm

Procedure:
Ask students what they think a migrant worker is. Explain what a migrant worker is if no student can answer the question. Try to elicit ideas from the students about what a migrant worker's life is like.

Students read the article "A Better Way" and discuss with the class the characteristics of migrant children.

Students then read "China's Migrant Children Fall Through the Cracks." Students will get together into groups of two or three and will discuss the similarities between migrant children in the two countries. Students will make a list of the similarities and note any differences that come up, and will share their lists with the rest of the class.

Each group will then come up with three possible ways to improve the education of migrant students in the U.S. and China. The groups will present their ideas to the class.

Students will pretend they are a migrant student in China. They will write a paper about their own condition, how they feel about school, and ways in which they would like it to change.

LESSON 2: IMPROVING THE EDUCATION OF MIGRANT CHILDREN

Aim: How can China improve the education of its migrant children?

Objectives:
· Students will read and understand a newspaper article;
· Students will list targeted information from the article;
· Students will build upon prior knowledge of the situation of migrant children;
· Students will have an understanding of the Chinese government's efforts to improve education for migrant children;
· Students will compose a persuasive letter.

Materials:
"China Makes Schooling for Migrant Children Easier." People Daily July 10, 2002. Website: www.english.peopledaily.com.cn

Procedure:
Students make a list on the board of ideas on how to improve the quality of education for migrant children.

Students will read the article "China Makes Schooling for Migrant Children Easier." Using the information from the article, they will then make a list of ways in which the Chinese government has begun to improve education for migrant children.

Students will again pretend that they are migrant children in China. They will write a letter to the Chinese government about their education. They will use ideas about how they feel from the prior lesson. Secondly, they will comment on the recent efforts the government has made to improve education. Last, they will urge the government to continue the efforts and give any further suggestions toward the improvement of the education of migrant children.