Welcome to the ellis island immigration webquest
Miss Durand -- 5th grade--Language arts
In class, we have just finished the novel The Orphan of Ellis Island: A Time Travel Adventure, by Elvira Woodruff. The book's main character, Dominic Cantori, ends up taking an incredible journey through time. He is transported to Italy in 1908 to accompany two young emigrants to America. In addition to experiencing this incredible, historic journey, Dominic is able to learn more about his past and gain a better understanding of his family's history. This novel gives not only a glimpse into the lives of immigrants, but also some of the motivations behind leaving home for better opportunities.
In this activity, we will explore the journey many immigrants took in coming to America. Through a variety of resources, we will research several of the countries that immigrants came from, what forces led people to seek a better life, and what life was like once they were finally able to reach America. This will help us to not only gain a better understanding of life for immigrants in America, but also what factors drove so many people to this country in the first place. We will also specifically look at the process of entering America through Ellis Island. |
As a fun introduction to our journey, please enjoy the following Schoolhouse Rock video, "The Great American Melting Pot":
[email protected] Created October 30, 2014