Moving Through Ellis Island

"

Everywhere immigrants have enriched the fabric of

American life."--John F. Kennedy

"Americans are not a narrow tribe. Our blood is as the flood of the Amazon, made up of a thousand noble currents all pouring into one."---Herman Melville

Introduction:

You have recently crossed the Atlantic Ocean on one of the steamships. What was your journey like ? What were some of the prized possessions you brought with you? Will you pass inspection? Suppose your father gets a chalk mark written on his shoulder...what does the mark mean? How smart do you need to be to live in America? Can you pass the mental testing? You will become an immigrant that has traveled through Ellis Island. You will find out the answers to these and many more questions as you begin the quest from your homeland through Ellis Island. Good luck on your adventure into America!

Task

You will be experiencing how your ancestors felt when they decided to emigrate to this country and face its challenges and opportunities. You will assume the role of an immigrant and create a scrapbook on your experiences traveling abroad and coming through Ellis Island.Your job is to create a multimedia scrapbook using pictures, journal entries, letters, artifacts, inspection papers, currency, identification, etc...on your experiences. This scrapbook will be passed on to many future generations. Take care in making it a souvenir to cherish forever.

Process

• You will be given a partner to work with
• Log on the computer and access the webquest from the Dows Lane Homepage (www.dowslane.org)
• Read the webquest "Moving Through Ellis Island". Make sure you understand what is required of you.
• Choose a name of an immigrant's name from the "Wall of Honor" section or "Family History "site listed in the resource section. You will 'become that person'. You have just arrived in America at Ellis Island. Let your journey begin and assume the role of that person.
• Please access the Powerpoint task sheet and find out what information you need to get to complete your project.
• Use the Resource section in this webquest to get the answers to your questions. Search the Internet search engines Yahooligans and Askjeeves for Kids to find out any more needed information. You may need additional time outside of class in order to complete your project. Make sure you know how to get to the Dows Lane homepage and this webquest. Use your time wisely!
• Once you have gathered all your information you will use the program Powerpoint to create your scrapbook titled "Moving Through Ellis Island". Access the Powerpoint "Slide Show Requirement Sheet" to know what is required on each slide. It should include enough pictures to make your project interesting.
• Once your scrapbook is completed you will share it with the whole class. A hard copy will also be printed out so you can show your family at home.
• Good luck on your adventure! Work cooperatively! If you need any assistance please see your teacher or Mrs. Carle.

Powerpoint Slide Show Requirements

Resources

Family History Site Wall of Honor Site Ellis Island Homepage Virtual Tour of Ellis Island Ellis Island Cookbook Another Ellis Island Cookbook	Ask Jeeves Yahooligans Yahoo	Historical Overview Journey Information Arrival Information Medical Inspection Information Mental Inspection Legal Inspection Information Detention Information Free to Land
Films/Pictures/Virtual Tour of Ellis Island Photographs of Ellis Island More Photographs Electronic Ellis Island Museum  American Memory Page	Immigration History American Immigration Homepage Immigrant Experience	Living Conditions for Immigrants Reasons for Immigration Immigration Museum The History Channel

Evaluation

You will be evaluated using a rubric that will be distributed in class. Some of the things you will be evaluated on are:

• answering all the questions
• working cooperatively
• managing time
• using the computer as your main resource
• documenting sources
• writing clear, coherent, and detailed information
• putting the information into a multimedia format (it should have a good combination of text, graphics, sound effects, and animation)

Conclusion

Welcome to America! With your admittance card, railroad or ferry passes, and box lunches in hand, your immigrants' journey to and through Ellis Island is complete. Enjoy the many opportunities that await you. Keep your scrapbook as one of the many treasures that you will pass on to your relatives.

Copyright © 1999

by Elizabeth Carle
   All Rights Reserved..