GEORGETOWN — In conjunction with their study of the Chicago-based novel “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair, Sussex Academy students researched families living in New York tenements to gain real-life perspective of the experiences faced by turn-of-the-century immigrants.

By studying actual families documented by the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, Dr. Andie Kirtley said the seniors in her honors English class were able to make connections with real people whose lives mirrored those of the characters in the book, leading to a better understanding of its content.

Seniors compiled a box of family artifacts, including photos, period literature and items immigrants would own and use. Students then shared their findings with Karen Hugues’s eighth grade class, who evaluated the upperclassmen presentations and were able to experience the kinds of projects they will work on when they reach high school.

“The hope is that they connected more closely with the text by connecting it with real people, and that by sharing what they learned about immigration with others, they will reinforce their knowledge,” Dr. Kirtley said.

The project aligned with English Language Arts Common Core standards in discussions and questioning, collaboration and presentation. Students were evaluated on authenticity of multiple sources, writing, accuracy and creativity, depth and detail of their narratives, and content.