APHG Immigration to America webquest

Learning questions: Who came to America? Why did they come? When did they come?

For the people of the United States, Ellis Island is frequently an experience commonly shared by our ancestors. In the period when the world’s immigrants poured into our country searching for a better life, this entry center processed and either admitted or rejected hundreds of thousands of men, women and children. Today, we are going to explore what Ellis Island was and what it meant to the people who came through the Great Hall.

1) Ellis Island and Waves of Immigration

Go to

1. Across the top menu click on Ellis Island, drop down to Immigrant experience, click Peopling of America and investigate the timeline period from 1880 – 1930, create a mind map summarizing the waves of immigration during this period

2. Next: click on family histories, choose two families to read about. Briefly summarize their stories.

3. Under the Ellis Island menu, go to photo album , click on Then, and look at the pictures, make a list of some of the groups pictured (who were they, where did they come from, what year?)

2) General History of Ellis Island

Go to

This gives a general history of immigration. Skim through the article and

1. Jot down at least five interesting facts.

2. Answer the following questions: How many people have come through Ellis Island? What is the percentage of Americans who can trace their family back through Ellis Island?

3) Why did they come: Push and Pull Factors.

Go to

1. Read the paragraph on US Immigration. Then click on “why did they come”. Add any additional information to your mind map on the waves of immigration from step one.

2. Make a list of all push and pull factors for each group mentioned and identify them as environmental, cultural, or economic.

4). Ellis Island Admissions:

Go to

1. Take the virtual tour going through the admissions building on Ellis Island and create your own graphic organizer or visual that details each step in the admission process.

2. Using your book pages 92-93 (Recent Immigration) Make a Venn Diagram labeled “Then and Now” and compare contrast past immigration to the US to current US immigration trends and policies. Each section of the Venn Diagram should have at least four items/facts listed.

5. Creative Journal Entry Quick Write: Now that you have explored immigration and Ellis Island, write a one day first person journal entry through the eyes of an immigrant. Imagine that you are seeing Ellis Island for the first time… what are you feeling, what does the future hold for you, why did you make the journey, who are you with, where are you going, where did you come from, etc. You are writing the diary or journal entry as if you are an immigrant in the late 1800’s/ early 1900’s.

Looking Ahead

You will be creating your own immigration story so you may want to start investigating your family history using the web sites below. We will give you full directions and resources for this.

Search for a family member (if applicable, not all of you may have had relatives who passes through Ellis Island, but if you think you may have, the search is free)

  • Website with other links for migration searches for African-American, German, Scandinavian, etc heritage.