Introduction
America is often referred to as the "Melting Pot." Take vegetable soup for an example of a melting pot, you put a lot of different ingredients into it to make a delicious dinner. America is the same way, we are made up of all different backgrounds yet our ingredients have made this the greatest country in existence. Many people risked their lives and gave up everything they had for a chance to come to America. Between 1820 and 1924 more than thirty five million people came to America. While many immigrants came through Angel Island, most arrived and were processed through Ellis Island. Immigrants were tested, given physical exams, and inspected before they were allowed to enter. Once you complete this WebQuest you will have gained a greater understanding of the difficulties and hardships immigrants overcame to become that phrase we often take for granted today --> "AMERICAN."
Task
Your task is to gain a greater understanding of immigration between the years 1890 and 1920. You will learn what the trip to America was like, the process at Ellis Island, and finally what it was like for immigrants once they began living in America.
Students will:
- Create a timeline of American immigration
- Listen and read first hand accounts of what it was like to immigrate to America
- Read an online story about Seymour Rechtzeit, a Polish immigrant who journeyed to America in 1920.
- Write a fictional friendly letter to a friend or loved one in a European country that they emigrated from.
Process
Every student will turn in:
- a timeline
- questionnaire about Relive a Boy's Journey: A Story of Immigration
- brainstorming sheet for the immigration letter
- rough draft of friendly letter
- final draft of friendly letter
1. Timeline
In small groups students will investigate events that took place between 1890 and 1920 involving immigration. The timelines will be created using readwritethink's website.
The timeline will include six dates that are important and relevant to immigration.
Use the following websites to help you in the process:
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactiviti…
http://www.history.com/topics/ellis-island
http://www.shmoop.com/ellis-island-immigration/timeline.html
http://www.flowofhistory.org/themes/movement_settlement/uspolicytimelin…
To access the timeline creator click the following link:
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/timeline_2/
2. A Boy's Journey
- Read the story Relive a Boy’s Journey: A Story of Immigration at the Scholastic website. It is an immigration story about a young boy, Seymour Rechtzeit, who left his homeland of Poland and journeyed toAmerica in 1920.
- As you read each chapter, answer the questionnaire provided in your packet.
3. Touring Ellis Island
- In this section you will find links for viewing Ellis Island. Choose at least two websites to visit and tour.
- As you are visiting these websites you should be filling out the brainstorming chart on immigration.
- This will certainly help as you write your friendly letter later.
o Scholastic’s Interactive Tour of Ellis Island
http://www.history.com/minisites/ellisisland/
4. An Immigrant's Friendly Letter
- Each student will write a friendly letter using the information they have researched.
- Each student will choose a country that they want to emigrate from. After choosing your country of origin, write a friendly letter back to a person still living in your homeland. This person can either be a friend or a relative.
- The letter will be written in first person, as if you were really the immigrant coming to America.
- In the letter you will need to include details about your journey on the boat, Ellis Island, and life in America.
- When your final copy is done you may antique your letter to give it an authentic look by using a tea bag or burning (only with parent supervision) the edges of the paper.
Evaluation
The WebQuest will be evaluated on completion of each task.
- Timeline---- Only one per group will be turned in.
- Relive A Boy's Journey----- Everyone must turn in a completed copy of this sheet.
- Immigration Brainstorm Chart- Everyone must turn in a completed sheet.
- Rough Draft of Friendly Letter- Everyone must turn in a rough draft.
- Final Copy--- Everyone must turn in a final copy of their own letter. This will be completed on notebook paper.
Conclusion
"Give me your tired, your poor / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free / The wretched refuse of your teeming shore / Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me / I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
- Emma Lazarus