UNIT ONE
New York City Chinatown:
A Retrospective Look

Unit One looks at history and development of New York City's Chinatown.

ACTIVITY 1

The First Chinese Immigrants

ACTIVITY 2

The Beginning of Chinatown

ACTIVITY 3

The First "Chinamen"

ACTIVITY 4

Major Historical Events

ACTIVITY 5

Physical Growth

ACTIVITY 6

Demographic Changes

ACTIVITY 7

Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Assoc.

ACTIVITY 8

Writing About the Census

ACTIVITY 9

Class Trip to Chinatown

ACTIVITY 10

Chinatown in 1930 and 1990

ACTIVITY 11

A Document-Based Question

 



TIME FRAME:

It will take 10 to 12 instructional periods to complete all the activities. Students are expected to spend 15 to
20 more hours completing various homework assignments. In addition, the trip to Chinatown may take half a school day.

PRODUCTS AND ASSESSMENT:

A portfolio may be established for each student. It should include the completed worksheets, interview notes, writings assignments, and the essay response to the Document-Based Question.


DOCUMENT 1

Earliest Colonization and Original Habitat, Etc. of Chinese in New York
WPA Federal Writers’ Project, NYC Unit Records

DOCUMENT 2

Chinese in N.Y. - Racial Groups in N.Y.
WPA Federal Writers’ Project, NYC Unit Records

DOCUMENT 3

Male and Female Immigrants, Ages 16 to 64, by Occupation and Country of Birth - NYC: 1990-94
The Newest New Yorkers, NYC Department of City Planning

DOCUMENT 4

Settlement Patterns of Chinese Immigrants
The Newest New Yorkers, NYC Department of City Planning

DOCUMENT 5

Photographs of Early New York City Chinatown
Museum of the Chinese in the Americas

DOCUMENT 6

Chinese Population in New York
WPA Federal Writers’ Project, NYC Unit Records

MAP 1

Map of Chinatown, Manhattan

MAP 2

Detailed Map of Chinatown, Manhattan

MAP 3

Map of Chinatown, Flushing, Queens

MAP 4

Map of Chinatown, Sunset Park, Brooklyn

WORKSHEET 1

Historical Events

WORKSHEET 2

Historical Events and Chinese Immigration

WORKSHEET 3

New York City Chinatown in 1930 and 1990

WORKSHEET 4

Document-Based Question Worksheet


Activity 1