Grade 4 Lesson 3
Item
Page
Lesson Plan
Page 2
Student Activity Handout 1
Florida Immigrant History
Page 4
Student Activity Handout 2
Spanish in Miami Article
Page 6
Student Activity Handout 3
The Top 10 Things you Should
Know about Florida’s Latinos and
Immigrants
Page 8
Marlins Think Tank: Fourth Grade Social Studies
Lesson Plan #3
OBJECTIVE.
KEY POINTS.
What is your objective? 
What knowledge and skills are embedded in the objective? 
Student will be able to:
VISION-SETTING
SS.4.A.6.2: Summarize contributions immigrant
groups made to Florida.
SS.4.A.6.3: Describe the contributions of significant
individuals to Florida.
1. An immigrant is someone who travels to
another country to take us permanent
residence.
2. Immigrant groups have played a key role
in the development of the state of
Florida.
3. It is reported that 59% of Miami’s
population was born outside of the US
— the highest percentage of foreignborn residents in any city in the world.
4. Immigrant groups have significant
economic, cultural, and electoral power
in the state.
5. Juan Ponce de Leon was one of the first
“immigrants” to the state of Florida. He
was searching for the fountain of youth!
ASSESSMENT.
Describe, briefly, what students will do to show you that they have mastered (or made progress toward) the objective. 
Students will create their own interview questions for someone from another country who has moved to
Florida. This will allow them to demonstrate their understanding of the contributions made by
immigrant groups in Florida.
OPENING (10 min.)
MATERIALS.
How will you communicate what is about to happen?  How will you communicate how it will happen? 
How will you communicate its importance?  How will you communicate connections to previous lessons?
 How will you engage students and capture their interest? 
DETERMINING METHODS
Students will enter class and immediately respond to the following prompt on the
board: “Are you from another country? Do you have any friends or family members
who are from another country? List the people and the countries from which they
come.”
Student
notebooks
After students have been given five minutes to write, the teacher will begin: Okay, all,
what do you think? Would anyone like to share? (Calls hands) Today we are going to
learn about immigrant groups in Florida. Does anyone know what an immigrant is?
An immigrant is someone who comes from another country with the purpose of living
in the new country permanently.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW MATERIAL (15 min.)
How will you explain/demonstrate all knowledge/skills required of the objective, so that students begin to
actively internalize key points? 
Which potential misunderstandings do you anticipate? How will you proactively mitigate them?  How
will students interact with the material? 
Our Introduction of New Material will be based on an article that we will read from the
following website: http://www.alsintl.com/blog/spanish-in-miami/
Student
notebooks
I will call on individual students to read the article, which explains the importance of
immigrant groups in Florida.
“Marlins Think
Tank: Fourth
Grade Florida
Immigrant
History”
Handouts
While we read, think about and respond to the following questions, on your “Fourth
Grade Florida Immigrant History” handout:
1. What did Cubans bring to Miami, other than language and food?
2. How much of Miami’s population is Latino/Hispanic?
3. Why has Spanish remained so important in Miami?
Printouts of
the “Spanish in
Miami” online
article
GUIDED PRACTICE (10 min.)
How will students practice all knowledge/skills required of the objective, with your support, such that they
continue to internalize the key points? 
How will you ensure that students have multiple opportunities to practice, with exercises scaffolded from
easy to hard? 
You are going to have ten minutes to read the “The Top 10 Things You Should Know
About Florida’s Latinos and Immigrants” article:
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2012/01/florida_latinos_immigrants.html
While you are reading, answer the following three questions (which are present on
your “Fourth Grade Florida Immigrant History” handouts:
1.
2.
3.
Are all of Florida’s Latino voters Cuban? Explain.
Are all of Florida’s Latino voters Republicans? Democrats? Explain.
Do Latino voters tend to like President Obama? Explain.
“Marlins Think
Tank: Fourth
Grade Florida
Immigrant
History”
Handouts
Printouts of
“The Top 10
Things You
Should Know
About Florida’s
Latinos and
Immigrants”
article
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE (20 min.)
How will students independently practice the knowledge and skills required of the objective, such that they
solidify their internalization of the key points prior to the lesson assessment? 
We are now going to watch an interview of a modern-day Miami Marlin, discussing
his home country and his experience as an immigrant in the United States. As we
watch, take notes on the questions that are present on your “Fourth Grade Florida
Immigrant History” handout.
After we are done watching the interview, spend ten minutes coming up with ten
questions that you would like to ask an immigrant who is currently living in Miami.
Your first homework assignment? Go out and interview an immigrant in your family
or group of friends. If you need help finding someone, ask me! You must submit your
questions (with answers from the person you choose to interview) next class.
Lesson Assessment: Once students have had an opportunity to practice independently, how will
they attempt to demonstrate mastery of the knowledge/skills required of the objective? 
The lesson assessment will be the product of the time utilized during independent
practice.
Your homework in addition to your interview: Research Juan Ponce de Leon and
respond to the following questions. A sample website you could use is:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/d/deleon.shtml
1. When did Juan Ponce de Leon come to Florida? Why did he come?
2. What was the impact of Juan Ponce de Leon coming to Florida?
3. Do you think that a fountain of youth exists? Why or why not?
CLOSING (5 min.)
How will students summarize and state the significance of what they learned? 
If we have time, at least three students will share their interview questions. What we
learned today can help us appreciate one of the most special things about the United
States: the importance and influence of immigrant groups. Never forget that no
matter where people are from, they are special! Great job today!
Marlins
Interview
Video Clip
“Marlins Think
Tank: Fourth
Grade Florida
Immigrant
History”
Handouts
Spanish in Miami: Bienvenido a Miami
By Ronen at Accredited Language
Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2011
Category: Etymology, History, Languages
Image by Ebyabe
Can you imagine Miami without mojitos, Cuban sandwiches and the pulsating rhythms of the
conga or rumba? Me neither.
Since being claimed for Spain in 1566, Miami, Florida, has always had a significant Latin
influence. From Spanish conquistadors to immigrants from neighboring Latin-American nations,
Spanish-speakers have played a huge role in the evolution of this city.
Indelible Cuban Influence
One group of Spanish-speakers that has been especially influential in the development of Miami
as we know it today is Cubans. Cubans have had a presence in the city for quite some time,
due to the proximity of Cuba to Miami. Their influence increased after Fidel Castro’s rise to
power in 1959, when waves of Cubans fled their homeland and flocked to Florida’s shores.
Along with their language and food, Cubans brought with them unique styles of music and
dance, such as conga and rumba, which have become central to the Miami entertainment
scene. Performers from Miami, such as Gloria Estefan, have even brought them to the national
stage.
Other styles of dance and music, such as bachata and samba, were also introduced by
immigrants from other Latin American countries and incorporated into the “Miami sound.”
A Majority of Minorities
The impact Spanish-speakers have had on Miami is hardly surprising when you consider that
70% of the city’s populace identifies as Latino/Hispanic (34.1% of whom are of Cuban ancestry),
according to the 2010 US Census. It is also reported that 59% of Miami’s population was born
outside of the US — the highest percentage of foreign-born residents in any city in the world.
These demographics contribute to the fact that Spanish is so widely spoken today in Miami, with
66.75% of Miami residents calling it their first language (as compared to English, with only
25.45%).
Miami Immigrants: Late to the Party
Another reason why Spanish has remained as prevalent as it has in Miami, in contrast to other
immigrant languages such as Louisiana Creole French, Yiddish, Polish and German, is the fact
that the major influx of immigrants occurred much later than in other cities.
Since the largest waves of Spanish-speaking immigrants did not really arrive in Miami until the
mid-20th century, rather than the mid-19th century, there has been less time for assimilation, and
people still have a close connection to their heritage.
The impact of the Spanish language on Miami culture extends so far that it has even begun to
affect the speech of non-Spanish-speakers. The “Miami accent,” as it has come to be known, is
characterized by a rhythm and pronunciation that is greatly influenced by Spanish, without
actually using the Spanish language.
Spanish Translation and Interpreting
The prevalence of Spanish-speakers in Miami makes the need for translation and interpreting
services especially great. With two-thirds of the city’s population identifying Spanish as their first
language, Spanish-speakers are a clear majority and their needs must be met.
In order to accommodate Spanish-speakers, translation is necessary in virtually every area of
daily life. From store-front signs to food labels, employee handbooks and medical forms,
accurate translation into Spanish is vital to the well-being of Miami’s population.
Professional interpreting services are also necessary to ensure fair and equitable treatment of
the Spanish-speaking community, no matter which Spanish dialect they use. Legal proceedings
and medical care are two areas in which access to highly-specialized interpreters is absolutely
essential.
Even if some of these individuals also speak English, they may be more comfortable using their
mother tongue when matters of health, money or legality are being discussed, as they often
involve very specific, nuanced language where every word can make a difference.
Can you imagine signing a contract or agreeing to a medical procedure in a language other than
your mother tongue?
While there are many other places in the US where Spanish-speaking immigrants make up
sizable portions of the population, such as California, the Southwest and New York, nothing
quite compares to Miami. More than sheer numbers, the language and culture of Spanishspeakers have truly become integral parts of Miami’s identity.
Name: _________________________
Fourth Grade Florida Immigrant History
Questions on “Spanish in Miami” Article:
1. What did Cubans bring to Miami, other than language and food?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. How much of Miami’s population is Latino/Hispanic?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. Why has Spanish remained so important in Miami?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
The Top 10 Things You Should Know About Florida’s Latinos
and Immigrants
They Have Significant Economic, Cultural, and Electoral Power in the
State
SOURCE: AP/Alan Diaz
A crowd consisting mostly of Latinos and immigrants chants slogans during a rally in
Miami, Florida.
By Ann Garcia and Philip E. Wolgin | January 27, 2012
In advance of Florida’s primary on January 31, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 facts about Latinos and
immigrants in the state. These facts provide important context for the significant economic, cultural, and
electoral power Latinos hold in America’s fourth-most populous state.
1. Florida’s Latino and immigrant populations are substantial. In fact, of the state’s 19 million
residents, 18.7 percent of them are foreign born, and 22.5 percent are Latino, making Florida home to the
third-largest Latino population in the United States.
2. There are 2.1 million eligible Latino voters in Florida. Sixteen percent of all eligible voters in the
state are Latino, up from 15 percent, or 1.8 million, in 2010.
3. Florida’s immigrants contribute significantly to the state’s coffers. According to a 2007 study,
immigrants contribute $20 billion per year in tax revenue. Even with no state income tax, unauthorized
immigrants in Florida paid $807 million in taxes in 2010—the third-highest amount in the nation.
4. Not all of Florida’s Latino voters are Cuban. The Sunshine State’s Latino vote is complex and does
not follow national trends. Cubans make up 32 percent of eligible Latino voters, Puerto Ricans 28
percent, and Mexicans 9 percent. Nationwide the demographics of Latino eligible voters are starkly
different: 59 percent Mexican, 14 percent Puerto Rican, and 5 percent Cuban.
5. Florida’s Latino voters are Democrats and Republicans in near-equal numbers. Thirty-one
percent of the state’s registered Latino voters are Republicans, while 38 percent are Democrats. Twentynine percent of registered Latino voters in Florida hold no party affiliation and 2 percent are registered
with another party. The party affiliation among Florida’s Latinos is a serious departure from national
trends, where a higher percentage of Latinos identify with the Democratic Party.
6. Latino voters played an important role in Florida’s 2008 GOP primary. In 2008, among all Florida
GOP voters, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) won the primary over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney
(R-MA) by a margin of 5 percent, or 97,000 votes. Among the state’s Latino voters, however, Sen.
McCain won 51 percent to Romney’s 15 percent. This may have been due to the fact that two days
before the 2008 Florida primary, Sen. McCain told NBC’s “Meet the Press” host Tim Russert that he
would sign the McCain-Kennedy comprehensive immigration reform bill if it came to his desk as
president. Only a day after the Florida primary, however, McCain changed his position.
7. Voting trends differ between Cubans and non-Cubans. In 2008 Florida’s non-Cuban Latino voters
backed then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) over Sen. McCain’s 65 percent to 33 percent. In contrast 47
percent of Cubans supported Sen. Obama, while 53 percent supported Sen. McCain. In 2010 only 40
percent of non-Cuban Latino voters supported Florida’s Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who rejects
comprehensive immigration reform, while nearly 78 percent of Cuban voters supported Rubio.
8. Florida’s Latino support for Sen. Obama outpaced the overall voting population. In the general
election, Sen. Obama won Florida’s Latino vote 57 percent to 42 percent, after winning the state by 3
points (51-48).
9. Candidates’ immigration positions still matter in Florida. In a poll conducted January 16–23, 70
percent of Florida’s registered Latino voters stated that they would be more likely to support a candidate
seeking to pass the DREAM Act, while only 6 percent would be less likely.
10. Republican presidential candidates face an uphill climb. President Obama holds a commanding
lead over either Romney (67-25) or Gingrich (70-22) among Latino registered voters nationally according
to this same poll. And though support from Florida-registered Latino voters is less firm, President Obama
still holds a lead over both Republican candidates—50-40 in a head-to-head matchup against Romney
and 52-38 in a contest against Gingrich.
Considering these 10 important facts, it’s clear that the GOP candidates should be working hard to appeal
to the key Latino vote before Tuesday’s Florida primary. Immigration could ultimately make the difference
between winning and losing the state.
Ann Garcia is a Research Assistant and Philip E. Wolgin is an Immigration Policy Analyst at American
Progress.
Questions on “The Top Ten Things You Should Know About Florida’s Latinos and
Immigrants” Article:
1. Are all of Florida’s Latino voters Cuban? Explain.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. Are all of Florida’s Latino voters Republicans? Democrats? Explain.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. Do Latino voters tend to like President Obama? Explain.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Name: _________________________
Miami Marlin Interview
+
1. What is your name? Where are you from? What position do you play?
2. How long have you lived in Florida? What are some of your favorite parts of the
state? Why?
3. Do you see diversity and people from different countries in Florida? Where? What
impact do you think that has on culture, here in Miami?
4. Tell us about where you are from. Where is your country? Why did your family (or
you) decide to move to the United States? When and how did you get here?
5. What cultures do you think have had the biggest impact on Miami? Where do you
see this influence (i.e. food, language, traditions, etc.)?
6. What do you miss most about your native country?
7. What is your favorite aspect of playing with the Miami Marlins?
My Interview Questions (and Answers):
1.____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3.____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4.____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5.____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6.____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7.____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
8.____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
9.____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
10.___________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Juan Ponce de Leon: Explorer
Juan Ponce de Leon (1460?-1521) was a
Spanish explorer and soldier who was the first
European to set foot in Florida. He also
established the oldest European settlement in
Puerto Rico and discovered the Gulf Stream (a
current in the Atlantic Ocean). Ponce de Leon
was searching for the legendary fountain of
youth and other riches.
Born in Santervas, Spain, in 1460 (the date is
uncertain), Ponce de Leon was a soldier fighting Muslims in southern Spain in
the early 1490's. Ponce de Leon sailed on Christopher Columbus' second
expedition to the Americas in 1493. Ponce de Leon did not return to Spain
with Columbus; he stayed in Santo Domingo (now called the Dominican
Republic).
He was appointed governor of the Dominican province of Higuey. He later
heard of gold in the neighboring island of Borinquen (now called Puerto Rico)
and brutally conquered the island, claiming it for Spain. He was then
appointed governor of this island. Due to his extreme brutality to Native
Americans, he was removed from office in 1511.
Ponce de Leon was then given the right to find and take the island of Bimini
(in the Bahamas); he was searching for riches and the fountain of youth (a
legendary spring that gave people eternal life and health). He sailed from
Puerto Rico on March 3, 1513, with three ships, the Santa Maria, the
Santiago, and the San Cristobal, and about 200 men. After stops at Grand
Turk Island and San Salvador, they reached the east coast of Florida (St.
Augustine) in April 1513. Ponce de Leon named the land "Pascua de Florida"
(feast of flowers) because they first spotted land on April 2, 1513, Palm
Sunday. He then claimed the land for Spain.
They left on April 8, heading south in the warm current now known as the Gulf
Stream. This oceanic current would become very important for Spanish trips
from Europe to America. On the return trip, a fight broke out between Ponce
de Leon's men and Native Americans in southern Florida. They sailed to
Cuba, then headed north, again trying to find Bimini (but instead, finding
Andros Island).
After returning to Puerto Rico, Ponce de Leon resumed fighting with the
Native Americans (putting down their rebellions against Spanish rule). He
returned to Spain and was named a Captain General by the King of Spain on
September 27, 1514, and again sailed to Puerto Rico to search for the elusive
Bimini.
His last expedition was another search for Bimini in 1521. His force of 200
men landed on the west coast of Florida, but were met by Native American
warriors, who wounded many of the men with arrows, including Ponce de
Leon. Ponce de Leon later died in Havana, Cuba, from this wound (in July,
1521). He is buried in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Questions on “Juan Ponce de Leon: Explorer” Article:
1. When did Juan Ponce de Leon come to Florida? Why did he come?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. What was the impact of Juan Ponce de Leon coming to Florida?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. Do you think that a fountain of youth exists? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________