"Engaging Classroom Activities: Teaching Students about Ellis Island"

Teaching about Ellis Island

Ellis Island is an icon of American history. It tells stories of hope, adventure, and new beginnings. There are also the stories of rejection and despair. All in all, students love learning about the building, the process, and stories of new Americans.

Here is a quick history of Ellis Island:

In 1892, the federal government built Ellis Island as a processing center for immigrants coming to the United States. It included a main building for immigration inspection, a kitchen, laundry room, bakery, baggage area, dormitory, hospital, and a recreation room. At the time, first and second class passengers - passengers with cabins - did not go through Ellis Island. They went directly to Manhattan. Passengers without cabins took ferries to the island for inspection. Immigrants waited in line to be inspected by doctors. The doctors were looking for diseases like smallpox and measles. If a person was found sick, they were quarantined to the hospital and deported back to their country. The entire immigration process took a few hours, cost nothing, and required little documentation.

1. Books about Ellis Island

Here are some books that are great independent reads. I like to have several copies of each book for students to choose from and form their own groups.

What was Ellis Island? by Patricia Brennan Demuth

My students love the Who Where/What Was series. This book is no different. Your students will learn about Ellis Island and immigration in a kid- friendly way.

Ellis Island: An Interactive History Adventure by Michael Burgan

Remember Choose Your Own Adventure books? This is one of those great books written in the second person with 3 story paths, 42 choices, and 21 possible endings. Your students will love this book about immigration.

At Ellis Island: A History of Many Voices by Louise Peacock

At Ellis Island: A History of Many Voices is different from the other nonfiction books because it is written in the first person. It reflects the views of a young girl escaping genocide and a young girl thinking about her great-great grandmother. There is a constant switch in viewpoints which can be confusing. There are letters written in cursive which could be hard for some students. I think your students will like this book as a read aloud.

Coming to America: The Story of Immigration by Betsy Maestro

Coming to America covers an extensive overview of immigration without oversimplifying. The author focuses on how and why people came to America. She does not ignore the Native Americans who lived here when Columbus "discovered" America or the horrific treatment of Africans enslaved and brought to America. There is joy and heartache woven throughout the book.

2. Immigration Virtual Field Trip

Scholastic has a really good virtual tour of Ellis Island. You can Explore Ellis Island, Meet Young Immigrants, Take a Virtual Field Trip, and look at Immigration Data. This site is engaging and fun. Click the image below to take the virtual tour of Ellis Island.

3. Independent Reading

Once students are introduced to the topic and understand what happened at Ellis Island, I like to assign independent text. I typically assign it as an independent reading centers and require them to complete the comprehension questions. This resource has a reading, activities, and a quiz. By this point, your students should be ready to show what they know! Click on the images below to learn more.