Activity Overview
Many people throughout history have immigrated to the United States from other countries. These people can become citizens of the United States by going through a very regimented process. In this activity, students will research the immigration process and create a storyboard outlining each step to become a citizen of the United States.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a 4-6 cell storyboard explaining and illustrating the process of becoming a US citizen.
Student Instructions:
- Click “Start Assignment”.
- Write a step in the immigration process in each heading.
- Create an illustration that represents each heading using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short summary of each heading/step in the space below the illustration.
Lesson Plan Reference
Activity Overview
Many people throughout history have immigrated to the United States from other countries. These people can become citizens of the United States by going through a very regimented process. In this activity, students will research the immigration process and create a storyboard outlining each step to become a citizen of the United States.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a 4-6 cell storyboard explaining and illustrating the process of becoming a US citizen.
Student Instructions:
- Click “Start Assignment”.
- Write a step in the immigration process in each heading.
- Create an illustration that represents each heading using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short summary of each heading/step in the space below the illustration.
Lesson Plan Reference
How Tos about Becoming a U.S. Citizen
Organize an Engaging Classroom Debate on U.S. Citizenship Paths
Invite your students to participate in a respectful debate about different ways people can become U.S. citizens, such as by birth or naturalization. Assign roles so students can research and represent various perspectives. This helps develop critical thinking and empathy as students learn about the diverse stories behind citizenship.
Guide students in researching real-life citizenship stories
Ask students to find and share short stories or interviews of people who became U.S. citizens through different processes. Encourage them to look for sources like videos, books, or articles and bring their findings to class. This personalizes the topic and builds research skills.
Facilitate small group discussions on challenges faced by immigrants
Divide your class into small groups and assign each group a different challenge immigrants might face, such as language barriers or learning U.S. history. Have students brainstorm solutions together and share ideas with the class to encourage collaboration and understanding.
Create a classroom bulletin board tracking citizenship steps
Design a visual display in your classroom where students can add illustrations or notes about each step in the citizenship process as they learn. This keeps students engaged and reinforces learning throughout the unit.
Frequently Asked Questions about Becoming a U.S. Citizen
What are the main steps to become a U.S. citizen for students?
To become a U.S. citizen, students should understand these key steps: apply for a green card, live in the U.S. for a required period, complete a citizenship application (Form N-400), pass an interview and citizenship test, and take the Oath of Allegiance.
How can teachers help students create a storyboard about the U.S. citizenship process?
Teachers can guide students to research each step of the citizenship process, organize those steps into 4-6 storyboard cells, and use illustrations and summaries to explain each stage clearly.
What is a simple way for 4th-6th graders to understand U.S. citizenship steps?
A simple way is to break down the process into easy-to-follow steps, such as living in the U.S., applying, interviewing, and swearing allegiance. Using storyboards and visuals can help make each step clear and memorable.
Why is a storyboard useful for learning about immigration and citizenship?
A storyboard helps students visualize and organize information, making complex steps like immigration and citizenship easier to understand through pictures and short summaries.
What are some creative ways to illustrate the process of becoming a U.S. citizen?
Students can use scenes showing interviews, ceremonies, and families, or draw important documents and symbols like the U.S. flag to creatively represent each step in the citizenship process.
More Storyboard That Activities
Immigration
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
