We Are Illinoisans was an exhibition at the Illinois State Museum that highlighted immigrants that came to Illinois from the 18th to 21st centuries through photos, objects, and life stories. The exhibit used the stories of more than a dozen people who left their homes and settled in Illinois to explore the evolving reasons people leave their home states and countries to settle in another land. Additionally, the exhibition included a display of ancestor photographs crowd-sourced from the current residents of Illinois. The original exhibit has been reproduced in a digital form for classroom use.
Pre-Activities before viewing the Exhibits - Use these activities before viewing the exhibit:
Moving - Examines what it is like to move (2nd-4th grade, can be used at upper grades also)
Where Am I From? - Helps students consider where they are from and provides various timeline resources. (Upper elementary)
Words, Words, and More Words - Immigration vocabulary
Exhibit Worksheet - Use this worksheet to help students explore the immigrant stories from the exhibit.
Post-Activities after viewing the Exhibits- Use activities after viewing the exhibit:
What to Pack? - Students can consider what they might take on an immigration journey (2nd-4th)
Looking at Artifacts? - Students explore immigrant belongings from The Story of Illinois website
Younger Student Exhibit Search - Use this on its own, or for the students' first look at the exhibit and follow up with the Exhibit Worksheet above. Teacher's key.
Exhibit Gallery Guide - Use this to help students explore the exhibit. This generally works best as a guided exploration.
Pre-Activities before viewing the Exhibits - Use these activities before viewing the exhibit:
Where Am I From? - Students explore where their family is from and how their story relates to worldwide migration
Words, Words and More Words - Immigration vocabulary
Exhibit Worksheet - Use this worksheet to help students explore the immigrant stories from the exhibit.
Post-Activities for Middle/Jr. High School after viewing the Exhibits - Use these activities after viewing the exhibit:
Looking at Artifacts? - has students exploring what people brought with them using the exhibit and The Story of Illinois website
Why Do People Move? - exploring in-depth why people move from one location to another
Immigration Over Time? - looking at where people have moved over time and why
Post-Activities for High School after viewing the Exhibits - Use these activities after viewing the exhibit:
Looking at Artifacts? - has students exploring what people brought with them using the exhibit and The Story of Illinois website
Why Do People Move? - exploring in-depth why people move from one location to another
Immigration: What Is the Solution? - using maps and reference websites, students try to better understand immigration and determine what they feel is important
Older student exhibit search - Use this on its own, or for the students' first look at the exhibit and follow up with the Exhibit Worksheet above. Teacher's key.
Mapping Activity - Use this to help look at where people in Illinois said they were from. This uses these pictures from the interactive map in the exhibit to help students explore what they see.