LT:
I can explain push and pull factors of migration
I can describe the immigrant experience in the U.S.
IMMIGRATION UNIT: An American Tail – Movie Guide
Introduction: As we watch An American Tail, think about how the movie takes elements from the
experiences of immigrants who came to this country and how these are captured in the feelings and
occurrences that the movie characters go through.
Setting: Shostka, Russia in 1885
Main Character: Fievel Mousekewitz and Family
In Russia
What is the Mousekewitz family’s view of America?
What are the reasons the Mousekewitz family wants
to leave Russia? Label each as a Push or a pull factor
On the Boat Ride
What ideas do you think the song “There Are No
Boat Crossing: Describe the ways that Fievel’s boat
Cats in America” represents? Explain how it relates
ride showed some of the conditions that the
to what immigrants thought.
immigrants had to deal with when crossing the
Atlantic.
In the United States
Create a list of what you recognize from the scenes
Create a list of things you see in the city that we have
of the immigrants entering the country (what
talked about during this time period. (inventions, how
happens, what do they have with them, how are they
people live, city life)
treated…)
List ways that you see immigrants trying to assimilate (blend in) into the United States, including Fivel.
What does the Cats Unfair/Mice Unite group represent?
What were they fighting for?
Justify why we would watch the movie An American Tail in class. Give at least two reasons that make a
connection between what we learned in class and what you saw in the movie.
1.
2.