Young historians step into the shoes of immigrants coming to Ellis Island. A simulation creates an experience in which participants visit several rooms, go through an interview process, and receive a stamp in their passport—either making their way into the United States of America or being deported. The simulation ends with a patriotic celebration. 

Concepts

ellis island, immigration, emigration, deportation, the statue of liberty, passports, interviewing, patriotism

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Visit the library to gather a collection of books on immigration and Ellis Island
• Assign a reflection piece where pupils write on paper or a blog post about their experience, sharing how they felt, what they learned, and ask any remaining questions 

Classroom Considerations

• Be sensitive to the deportation portion of the lesson, consider your population and how that topic will affect them
• The activity requires several classrooms and a large open space such as the gym or cafeteria
• This resource isn't written like a lesson plan but more as an overview meant for colleagues or administration 

Pros

• Incorporates parent volunteers 
• A hands-on learning experience boosts engagement and proficiency 

Cons

• Example letters and templates are provided but you will need to make materials from scratch 

Common Core

SL.2.4 SL.2.6 SL.3.4 SL.3.6 SL.4.4 SL.4.6