Declaration of Intention for Albert Einstein
The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945)
Analyzing Einstein’s Citizenship Application
Recommended Activity
Published By:
National Archives Foundation
Historical Era:
The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945)
Thinking Skill:
Historical Analysis & Interpretation
Bloom’s Taxonomy:
Analyzing
Grade Level:
Upper Elementary, Middle School
Suggested Teaching Instructions
Use this activity during a unit of study on immigration, citizenship, or World War II. For grades 4-8. It’s best used as a full-class activity since you can click on View Entire Document and see the parts that are obscured.
Use “who, what, when, where, why” questions to prompt students to analyze the document and understand it in a historical context. Ask students to identify the date(s) of the document, the audience for whom it was written, and what evidence helps to identify why it was written.
Ask students to list three things the author said that they think are important to figuring out the author of the document? Finally, ask students to make an educated guess about the person featured in this document whose identity has been concealed.
To the extent possible under law, National Archives Foundation has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to “Analyzing Einstein’s Citizenship Application”
Description
Students will examine and interpret information from a Declaration of Intention document to discover the individual applying for citizenship in the United States: Albert Einstein.