Takaki - Chapter 11

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of spatial learning is making use of maps. Because of the upsurge of online resources both for finding maps and for making maps, it is crucial that students learn about these resources and how to use these resources to supplement their learning.

To supplement their learning of Takaki Chapter 11, students will create their own map of New York City based on the September 7, 2007 New York Times article "Jewish Landmarks Map Includes Movers, Shakers, and Bialy Markers." Because the New York Board of Rabbis has not made their map publicly available yet, I want students to use the selected landmarks listed in the article to create their own Google Map of New York City's Historical Jewish Landmarks. Not only will they gain technological knowledge, but they will also gain an appreciation for the widespread influence of Jewish people in New York City. Students will also be able to recognize some of the influential people, like Woody Allen and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose ancestral routes trace back to those early Jewish immigrants into the United States. Lastly, this activity will emphasize that Jewish immigrants were not concentrated in only one part of New York City, which was made clear as a result of Takaki's discussion of the migration not just from Europe to the United States, but also within New York City itself.