Jane Addams

Advocate for the Immigrants

America is a nation of immigrants.  In 1889, three fourths of Chicago was foreign born.  Jane Addams opened Hull House in Chicago as a refuge where immigrants could learn English, develop new skills, and celebrate their heritage as they fervently worked to assimilate and thrive in their new homeland.

 As Jane relives her life from a privileged child growing up in Cedarville, Illinois to a passionate advocate for immigrants and the poor, she will share the stories of the immigrant families she helped, enabling children to better understand why they came here and the challenges they faced.  Children will gain a much broader perspective of immigration, and Jane will leave them with the challenge to discover their own family’s heritage.

RELATED CURRICULUM SUGGESTIONS:

• Career Day
• Units on character education
• The study of local heroines
• The subjects of social studies and language arts
• Units on immigration
• Units on Illinois and Chicago history
• Units on community service

SPECIAL CELEBRATION DATES:

• October – National Book Month
• October 19-25 – National CHARACTER COUNTS! Week
• November 17 -  World Peace Day (Jane Addams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
• November 15-21 – American Education Week
• December 10 - Jane Addams Day
• March – Women’s History Month
• April 12-18 – National Library Week
• April 19-25 – National Volunteer Week
• May 11-17 – Children’s Book Week

*For specific tie-ins to your state's curriculum and learning standards, please call our office.