Virtual Field Trip of Virtual Field Trip of Ellis Island Ellis Island

Heather LawtonHeather Lawton

44thth Grade Grade

Ross Corners Elementary School Ross Corners Elementary School

New York State Standards/ Themes New York State Standards/ Themes and Objectivesand Objectives

Social Studies Standard 1Social Studies Standard 1 Themes Include: Events of American Themes Include: Events of American

History, culture, and time, continuity and History, culture, and time, continuity and changechange

Objectives: Objectives: 1. Students will learn about the history of immigration in 1. Students will learn about the history of immigration in

America.America.

2. Students will learn about the historical value of Ellis 2. Students will learn about the historical value of Ellis Island. Island.

Background InformationBackground Information Ellis Island is located in the upper part of the New Ellis Island is located in the upper part of the New

York Bay, off the coast of New Jersey and right York Bay, off the coast of New Jersey and right next to the Statue of Liberty. next to the Statue of Liberty.

Ellis Island was a Federal immigration station that Ellis Island was a Federal immigration station that millions of immigrants from countries around the millions of immigrants from countries around the world had to stop at before entering America.world had to stop at before entering America.

Between 1892 and 1954 more than 12 Million Between 1892 and 1954 more than 12 Million immigrants passed through the doors of Ellis immigrants passed through the doors of Ellis Island all with the same hope…to become an Island all with the same hope…to become an American. American.

The Journey Begins…The Journey Begins… The year is 1920 and The year is 1920 and

you and your father you and your father sailed for two weeks on sailed for two weeks on a ship from Poland to a ship from Poland to America.America.

The boat ride was The boat ride was crowded, cold, wet and crowded, cold, wet and miserable but you still miserable but you still feel excited because you feel excited because you finally see the great finally see the great Statue of Liberty for Statue of Liberty for yourself. yourself.

The Arrival The Arrival

Upon arrival to Ellis Island you would Upon arrival to Ellis Island you would enter the building on the main floor enter the building on the main floor through the baggage room. This is where through the baggage room. This is where you would leave any luggage and you would leave any luggage and belongings you had brought with you. belongings you had brought with you.

Baggage Room

Stairs of SeparationStairs of Separation After leaving your luggage you had to After leaving your luggage you had to

walk up stairs that led to the Great Hall. walk up stairs that led to the Great Hall. At the top of these stairs doctors stood At the top of these stairs doctors stood and watched you walk up these steps. and watched you walk up these steps. The doctors watched you for signs of any The doctors watched you for signs of any illness, disease or insanity. If they felt you illness, disease or insanity. If they felt you showed any of these signs a doctor showed any of these signs a doctor would mark you with chalk.would mark you with chalk.

Stairways to the Great Hall

Medical ExamMedical Exam

The next step was a 3 to 5 minute medical exam for The next step was a 3 to 5 minute medical exam for every immigrant. every immigrant.

These physicians would check for signs of infectious These physicians would check for signs of infectious diseases or other conditions and then mark them with diseases or other conditions and then mark them with chalk marks if they needed further examinations. They chalk marks if they needed further examinations. They would put an E for eye problems, an H for heart, L for would put an E for eye problems, an H for heart, L for lameness, SC for scalp, X for mental disease, and so lameness, SC for scalp, X for mental disease, and so

on.on.

The Great HallThe Great Hall

The next step was to wait in the great hall for your legal The next step was to wait in the great hall for your legal inspection, which was filled with people. Two thousand inspection, which was filled with people. Two thousand or more aliens, people of all ages, the majority between or more aliens, people of all ages, the majority between the ages of 18 and 30 occupied it at any one time. A the ages of 18 and 30 occupied it at any one time. A noise of crying infants, and languages could be heard noise of crying infants, and languages could be heard echoing from all around its fifty-six foot ceilings. echoing from all around its fifty-six foot ceilings.

The Great Hall

Legal InspectionLegal Inspection One of the last stops on an immigrant’s journey One of the last stops on an immigrant’s journey

through Ellis Island would be the legal through Ellis Island would be the legal inspection. At your legal inspection you would inspection. At your legal inspection you would have to prove what country you are from and have to prove what country you are from and that you would plan to live and work once you that you would plan to live and work once you get to America.get to America.

Journey’s EndJourney’s End

After the immigrants were approved for After the immigrants were approved for admission into the United States they admission into the United States they walked down the staircase to meet their walked down the staircase to meet their family and loved ones they hadn’t seen in family and loved ones they hadn’t seen in years.years.

Kissing PostKissing PostJourney’s EndJourney’s End

Ellis Island TodayEllis Island Today

Today, Ellis Island is a most valued as a historic site Today, Ellis Island is a most valued as a historic site that thousands of visitors tour each year. that thousands of visitors tour each year.

An American Immigrant Wall of Honor on Ellis Island An American Immigrant Wall of Honor on Ellis Island commemorates the names of more than 500,000 commemorates the names of more than 500,000 immigrants and their families. It's located on the north-immigrants and their families. It's located on the north-east corner of the island.east corner of the island.

You can research your own family history on Ellis You can research your own family history on Ellis Island at the American Family Immigration History Island at the American Family Immigration History Center.Center.

Questions?Questions?

Fun Follow Up Activity!Fun Follow Up Activity!

After taking the virtual fieldtrip of Ellis After taking the virtual fieldtrip of Ellis Island, go home and talk to your parents Island, go home and talk to your parents about your own heritage. about your own heritage.

Make a family tree and write a paragraph Make a family tree and write a paragraph on your families cultural heritage. on your families cultural heritage.

ResourcesResources

History Channel Exhibits- Ellis IslandHistory Channel Exhibits- Ellis Island

Scholastic Teaching Resources- Virtual Scholastic Teaching Resources- Virtual Tour of Ellis IslandTour of Ellis Island