Ellis Island – Immigration Then and Now
Faith Swartzendruber
Lincoln Trail Elementary
Summer 2013
Arriving at Ellis Island – Bain Collection,
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ggb2006005960/
In this lesson, students will explore Ellis Island from the 1850s-1920’s and compare with immigration today. Students will also compare primary and secondary sources of information.
Overview/ Materials/LOC Resources/Standards/ Procedures/Evaluation/Rubric/Handouts/Extension
Overview Back to Navigation BarObjectives / Students will:
· understand immigrants’ experience traveling through Ellis Island
· understand today’s immigrant experience
Recommended time frame / 5 – 45 minute class periods
Grade level / 4th
Curriculum fit / Immigration, Northeast Region
Materials / · Photos of Ellis Island from LOC – printed and laminated *see resource table
· Photo Analysis Tool - http://www.loc.gov/teachers/primary-source-analysis-tool/
· Photo Analysis Tool Teacher Guide - http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/resources/Analyzing_Photographs_and_Prints.pdf
· Scholastic’s Explore Immigration Data http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/immigration_data/
· National Geographic Reading Expeditions Immigrants Today
· Immigrants Today teachers guide http://www.ngsp.com/Portals/0/Downloads/41754_tg.pdf
· Journal Rubric from ReadWriteThink –online at: http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson313/rubric.pdf
Common Core Back to Navigation Bar
CCSS ELA and Literacy
Reading Literature
· RL.4.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
· RI.4.6 Compare and contrast a firsthand and secondhand account of the same event or topic; describe the differences in focus and the information provided.
Writing
· W.4.7 Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.
· W.4.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Procedures Back to Navigation Bar
Day One:
· Show one photo from resource table to students and lead them through the Analysis Tool worksheet so they understand how to fill it out.
· Share your thinking aloud with the students so they hear how to generate observations, reflections, and questions.
· Have students fill out Analysis Tool for 3-4 photos of their choice.
· Have students share at their tables their Observations, Reflections, and Questions.
Day Two:
· Briefly review photos from Day One.
· Have students compile observations to write about:
· What it would be like to have been an immigrant at this time.
· How would they feel about leaving their home?
· What reasons would have made their family move to a new country?
· What problems would they face?
· What might happen when people from a different culture move to the US?
· Use Journal rubric. (online link below)
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson313/rubric.pdf
Day Three:
· Using Teachers Guide: Give students time to preview the book by looking at the photos and reading the captions and quotations.
· Point out the maps show the countries from which many of the immigrants have come. Ask “Why do you think people have immigrated from some countries but not others?”
· Read Immigrants Today
Day Four:
· Finish Immigrants Today
· Clarify understanding using questions from Teachers Guide:
· Give three main reasons why people from other countries immigrate to the US.
· Compare and contrast problems that people from different countries have when they arrive in the US.
· What are some of the ways in which immigrants have contributed to their communities?
Evaluation Back to Navigation Bar
Day Five:
· Review work from Day 1-4. Students studied immigration from late 19th C and today.
· Write journal entries comparing experiences of immigrants from the past and today. How are they the same? Different? What problems were faced then? Now? How were immigrants greeted then? Now?
Extension Back to Navigation Bar
· Have students take an interactive tour of Ellis Island at http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/tour/
· Click on “Meet Young Immigrants.” Have students choose one immigrant to learn about.
· Write about the similarities and differences of past and present immigrants. How are the experiences the same? Different?
Primary Resources from the Library of Congress
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Image / Description / Citation / URLView of Ellis Island, New York Harbor, Immigration Station (1891) / Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Reproduction number: LC-USZ62-58723 / http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2005693139/
Steerage Passengers Taking Life Easy (1905) / Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Reproduction number: LC-USZ62-58585 / http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2005693063/
US Inspectors examine eyes of immigrans, Ellis Island, US (1913) / Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Reproduction number: LC-USZ62-7386 / http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/97501532/
Boat unloading immigrants at Ellis Island, New York Harbor (1928) / Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Reproduction number: LC-USZ62-84928 / http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2008675318/
Physcicians examining a group of Jewish immigrants (1907) / Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Reproduction number: LC-USZ62-22339 / http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2012646350/
Landing at Ellis Island / Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Reproduction number: LC-USZ62-12595 / http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/97501086/
Immigrants just arrived from Foreign Countries--Immigrant Building, Ellis Island, New York Harbor
/ Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA Reproduction number: LC-USZ62-15539 / http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/97501095/
Rubric
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http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson313/rubric.pdf
Handouts
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