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Your task will be to follow the journey of an immigrant through Ellis Island. This
person has arrived between the years 1890-1920. Your journey is a long one. You
are traveling from Southern and Eastern Europe. Perhaps you are from Italy, Poland,
or Russia. Choose a country. Why have you left your homeland? What do you hope to
find in America? What happens to you when you arrive at Ellis Island? Does your
journey end here?
Complete the tasks while on your journey. Remember, history is not just a study
of the past but about real people living in the present. You will be creating a
daily journal describing
your experiences as you travel from your chosen country to Ellis Island. Remember
to include the reasons why you left your homeland, what you hope to find in America,
and what happens to you when you arrive at Ellis Island. Title your journal "Through
the Eyes of.....(choose your immigrant's name)."
The following tasks and worksheets must be completed. They will help you to develop
your journal and WebQuest. Use the highlighted hyperlinks to complete the tasks.
Task # 1: The Awaiting Journey
You will need some background information before you write your letter to a
relative in America. Besides the library's books-in-print, you might want to refer
to "Why Did The Immigrants Come To America?" and
"Immigrants In The Land Of Opportunity"
Task # 2a: Packing for the Journey
# 2b: After completing this
task, imagine that you and your family had to quickly leave the United States today.
As a family, discuss what possessions you would take with you and why. Share this
information in an essay.
Task # 3a: The Trip to America (On board the ship)
Describe your experiences on board the ship taking you to America. In your journal
record your daily activities living and waiting for the journey to end. Refer to
the library's books-in-print collection especially Journey to Ellis Island: How My
Father Came To America and Ellis Island: New Hope in a New Land.
Also use the website called
The Immigrant Journey.
# 3b:
You have just sighted the Statue of Liberty and you will soon be gaining entry to
Ellis Island. Using sensory words and details, describe in your journal your thoughts
at this moment. How did things look, sound, feel, taste, and smell to you? You may
write either a poem or a narrative essay.
Refer to the library's books-in-print collection, as well as the database article
"Immigration in the 1900's, 1900-1909." ( To access see "Resource Section-Databases")
Note: A very helpful site for both these tasks is
"Immigration in American Memory:The Great Surge".
Task # 4a: Arrival at Ellis Island - Medical Inspection
The journey did not end here. All immigrants were required to pass a
Medical Inspection.
After completing your medical inspection sheet, select one of the diseases, research
the symptoms, and on looseleaf paper record your findings.
# 4b: Then
describe in your journal what happened to you or to someone else identified with
this disease.
Task # 5a: Arrival at Ellis Islande - Legal Inspection
After the medical exam, immigrants were required to answer the questions of the
U.S. Immigration inspector. This
Legal Inspection had to be completed
before entry.
As part of your journal entry, describe what happened to you or someone else who
failed the legal inspection.
# 5b:
My New Home
You are settled in your new home. Your task is to write a letter to your friends in your homeland.
Tell them about our life here. Where do you live? Do you go to school? What is it
like in your new neighborhood? Are you happy? To help you create your letter,
use the website
"Immigration in American Memory-The Great Surge," and
the article "Immigrants
in the Land of Opportunity."
Task # 6a: An Oral History
The immigrants of Ellis Island have many stories to tell. It is perhaps a story
of your family. On April 3rd, we will have an "Oral History Day." Here you will
have the opportunity to listen to presentations given by members of those families
who might have arrived from Southern and Eastern Europe from 1890-1920. Your task
is to listen to the presentations and take notes on looseleaf.
# 6b: Who are You?
Knowing about our family helps to explain who we are. Using
The Family Tree, find out who you are. Ask
your grandparents for information too, using the
Grandparents' Family Tree.
With this information gathered, now create your family
tree.
Task # 7: Infograph
a) Using the table
They Came From Many Lands" round the number
of
immigrants to the nearest million and using the program "The Graph Club," create
a bar graph, a line graph, a pictograph, and a pie graph. Be sure to give your graph
a title and describe what it shows.
b) Using the table Immigration to the U.S. By Decade" create a bar graph,
a line graph, a pictograph, and a pie graph. Round numbers to nearest whole number.
Be sure to give your graph a title and describe what it shows.
c) Take an
"Immigration
Increase Quiz." Read the directions and write your answers on
looseleaf paper.
research of information found in the print resources in our Media Center.
Task # 8: Art and Technology
During our trip to Ellis Island, we will be using digital cameras and sketch pads
to visually record and remember our experiences. Upon our return to class, we will
develop a collage of our experiences.
Task # 9: Present Day Immigrants
You have viewed life "through the eyes of a turn-of-the-century immigrant." Now
it is time to view today's immigrant experiences. If you were to start an Immigrant's
Journal today, who would you be? Where would you be coming from? Why would you be
coming to the United States? How did you get here? Who would welcome you?
Write your thoughts in your journal. Refer to the database articles:
"The New Immigrants"
"The Many Faces of
Immigration"
"Immigrants Take
Ever-More Perilous Routes to America"
Also look at the book New Kids in Town: Oral Histories of Immigrant Teens
by Jane Bode available in our library.
Task # 10: Exhibit Presentation
In preparation for our Exhibit on May 14th, we will develop a PowerPoint presentation
entitled "Through the Eyes of an Immigrant."
Our exhibit will also include all journals, art work, photography, and poetry
developed by the students.
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