New Shores Slides
Grade 5 Social Studies • ECS.5.G.1.4
Historical Perspective & Writing
Journey to a New World
New Shores,
New Lives
Why did millions of courageous people leave their homes across the globe to build a future in America?
Mission Investigate Push & Pull Factors to Write Your Historical Narrative
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Key Concepts
Push Factors vs. Pull Factors
Core Terms
Push Factors
Reasons to Leave
Harsh conditions, dangers, or hardships in someone's home country that push them away to seek safety elsewhere.
Think of it like:
"Things are so tough here, we must leave to survive."
Pull Factors
Reasons to Come
Exciting opportunities, rights, or freedoms in a new country that pull newcomers toward a brighter future.
Think of it like:
"America has opportunities we could never have here."
Migrate: to move to a new area • Immigrate: to come into a new country permanently
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Part 1: The Push
Why Leave Your Homelands?
Choose at least 2 for your writing
Hunger & Crop Famine
Events like the Irish Potato Famine ruined food supplies. Families faced starvation without enough harvest to survive.
Key problem: Starvation
Unfair Laws & Fear
Strict rulers and governments persecuted people for their religion or beliefs, making daily life unsafe.
Key problem: Lack of Safety
Poverty & No Land
Wealthy landlords owned all the farmland. Poor workers earned tiny wages with no hope of buying property.
Key problem: No Future
Remember: Push factors forced people to take immense risks and cross turbulent seas.
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Part 2: The Pull
Why Choose America?
Choose at least 2 for your writing
Farmland & Space
America offered fertile frontiers where families could claim, own, and farm acres of their own soil.
Key promise: Owning Land
Factory & Rail Jobs
Booming mills, mines, and railroads in bustling American cities eagerly hired hardworking immigrants.
Key promise: Steady Wages
Liberty & Schools
Freedom of religion, democratic government, and free public schools opened doors to a better life.
Key promise: New Opportunities
Also: Many families traveled to reunite with relatives who had already arrived!
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Writing Assignment
Your Historical Narrative Prompt
Paragraph Task
"Imagine you are a person living in another country many years ago. Write a paragraph explaining why you might decide to move to America, including your challenges and new opportunities."
Checklist Requirements:
- 1 At least 2 reasons to leave home country (push)
- 2 At least 2 reasons to choose America (pull)
- 3 Specific details or examples supporting reasons
Helpful Words
Incorporate these historical words into your writing:
immigrate migrate opportunity freedom jobs safety family land education religion government better life
Goal: Use at least 4 of these words!
Write in first person: "I have made the hard decision to leave..."
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Mentor Blueprint
Organizing Your Paragraph
Structure Guide
1
Topic Sentence (Identify who you are & your big decision)
"Sitting in our cottage in 1885, I have made the difficult decision to immigrate to America."
2
Push Reasons (Explain 2 challenges forcing you away)
"Here, our crops rotted in the soil, leaving hunger, and our strict government punishes our religion."
3
Pull Reasons (Explain 2 opportunities drawing you forward)
"However, letters describe steady factory jobs in Chicago and the freedom to worship openly without fear."
4
Concluding Hope (Express your hope for a new life)
"Though crossing the sea is scary, America offers my family the opportunity for a better life."
Now pick up your pencil and bring your historical traveler's story to life!
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