This 8-page booklet is designed for use by high school students studying American/United States History who are watching Far and Away (1992) to learn about U.S. immigration and westward expansion at the turn of the last century. Sections of the booklet are to be completed before, during, and after the film. There are multiple-choice questions, essay questions, map questions, and more...even a word search puzzle to help reinforce spelling. Students are asked to compare and contrast characters' backgrounds using a Venn diagram. Questions run the gamut from basic recall to critical thinking.

Although Far and Away did not earn any Oscars, it is popular among history teachers because of the broad picture it paints of life in the 1890s. Students see living conditions in Ireland, and the push and pull factors which caused people to migrate to the United States. When the main characters arrive in the United States, students see the immigrant experience through these characters' eyes. Best of all, unlike a lot of big-budget Hollywood period films, this movie is rated PG-13 and contains no nudity. Click here to print.