Curated OER
When Jessie Came Across The Sea
Students engage in a study about immigration by using children's literature. They conduct research about the immigrations to New York City in the past and the current status. Students conduct class discussion about Ellis Island and what...
Curated OER
Jews in America at the Time of Growth and Change: Forging New Frontiers
Tenth graders examine the role of Jewish Americans in the 1900s. They examing the changes in industry and inventions. They also identify how Jewish Americans changed society and religious organization.
Curated OER
Immigration Oral History
Students explore oral history and how it is important to historical record. They interview someone who is a U.S. immigrant and create an oral history project/paper based on this interview.
Curated OER
Immigration Unit
Third graders develop an appreciate for the various cultures that are present in their local community. Through reading and research, they explain how various culture came to live in their area. At the conclusion of the unit, 3rd...
Curated OER
What was Behind the Golden Door?
Students adopt the persona of an immigrant child to explore the reasons underlying why families left their homelands. They empathize with the emotional plight of immigrants through creative composition.
Curated OER
Turning the Century
High schoolers examine the Gilded Age. In this Gilded Age instructional activity, students create a museum of their own showing what life was like in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. High schoolers investigate immigration,...
Curated OER
The Testing of the Feebleminded Immigrants
Students examine the intelligence testing of Henry Goddard during the early 1900s. They discover criticisms that are still occuring today. They analyze how science and technology is contributing to this practice.
Curated OER
Stowaway?
Students research and describe what happens to immigrants coming to America today. It is designed to get students thinking about the similarities and differences in immigrant experiences over the past 100 or so years.
Curated OER
Short Vowel U: Circle and Print #2
In this short vowel u worksheet, students circle the word in a pair that has the short u sound, then practice printing the word on a line beneath. A reference web site is given for additional activities.
Curated OER
Thematic Unit: Beginning Holocaust Studies
Fifth graders discuss concepts of diversity, culture, and prejudice, gain understanding of harm caused by prejudice, and demonstrate ability to think critically and a desire to act morally.
Curated OER
Statue of Liberty
Students make their own Statue of Liberty. In this Statue of Liberty lesson plan, students research the symbol of the United States, create a KWL chart for it, and cut and paste their own Statue of Liberty.
Curated OER
Golden Door Book
Students use the Golden Door as a theme to search for historical and aesthetic content. They create a paper collage containing relevant images, text and expressions.
Curated OER
Plagued by Poverty
Learners investigate the nature, causes and statistics of diseases in lesser-developed countries and explore ways in which disease impacts the global population. They write a speech regarding disease in their country and how to prevent it.
Scholastic
Scholastic: An Interactive Tour of Ellis Island
Brush up on immigration history while taking a virtual tour of the immigration station at Ellis Island. Listen to immigrants tell the fascinating story of their journey.
The History Cat
The History Cat: History Trekker: Ellis Island: An Immigrant Story
Read about the difficult life of Jews in Russia under Czar Alexander III, one where they faced discrimination and Jewish communities were attacked when pogroms took place. Follow along as a Russian Jew travels to America and is processed...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Ellis Island, the Gilded and the Gritty: America, 1870 1912
This lesson examines seven Lewis Hine photographs of recently-arrived immigrants at Ellis Island.
The History Cat
The History Cat: Ellis Island
Tells the story of Ellis Island, the first stop for immigrants arriving in New York City beginning in 1890. Describes the process would-be immigrants to America had to go through before being allowed to board a trans-Atlantic ship, the...
Library of Congress
Loc: Images of Ellis Island and Immigration, Ca. 1880 1920
A collection of twelve historical photographs showing immigrants arriving at Ellis Island and being processed.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Immigration Lesson Plan
This instructional activity helps students compare and contrast the stories of immigrants from decades ago to those of recent immigrants. It also compares the differences between immigrants' experiences at Ellis Island and Angel Island.
Other
Nypl Digital Gallery
The New York Public Library has an extensive collection of photographs from Ellis Island on their site. Fifteen pages of images are provided here.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Ellis Island: Oyster Island
Before Ellis Island was an immigrant processing center, it was visited by Algonquin peoples to harvest the oyster beds, hence the name 'Oyster Island' which was given to it by the Dutch. Two other islands in the same area were also...
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: Jewish Immigration, Popular Culture, the Comic Book
[Free Registration/Login Required] Using primary source documents students look at Jewish immigration to the United states, popular culture of the time and the birth of the comic book.
Curated OER
Ellis Island, 1905
This lesson examines seven Lewis Hine photographs of recently-arrived immigrants at Ellis Island.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: The New Americans (Lessons on the Immigrant Experience)
Find eleven lesson plans developed in conjunction with the PBS documentary "The New Americans," which explores what it means to be a new Americans in the twenty-first century. Lessons touch on topics associated with recently arrived...