This ethnic studies guide contains lesson plans which introduce secondary students to the topic of immigration and ethnicity. It is intended to be used by students prior to visiting the Balch Institute's exhibit "The American Kaleidoscope" in Philadelphia. However, the lessons can be used independent of such a field trip to help students develop an understanding of immigration and the reasons why it occurs. There are ten lessons. Each is self-contained and consists of a brief reading followed by research and discussion questions. Students read about the trip to America, the beginnings of acculturation from 1776-1840, immigration in the mid-nineteenth century, restrictive immigration acts of the twentieth century, the wave of political refugees from 1920 to the present, and the present-day awakening of ethnic pride. In addition to discussing the readings, students construct models of a frontier town, develop time lines, give oral reports on research topics, compose a newspaper reflecting life in an immigrant ghetto, undertake independent readings, and view films and filmstrips. The guide concludes with an annotated bibliography of books, films, and filmstrips which can be used to supplement the lessons. (RM)