Immigration WebQuest

Introduction

Task

Process

Resources

Evaluation

Conclusion

Curriculum Area: 5th Grade Social Studies

North Carolina Standard Course of Study: 3.02 Examine how changes in the movement of people, goods, and ideas have affected ways of living in the United States.

Introduction

In this activity, you will learn about the greatest human migration period in the United States history as well as the events that took place at Ellis Island. You will understand why the United States is called the nation of all nations.

During the years between 1820 and 1924, thirty-five million people came to America from countries around the world. For most of them, the trip to America was difficult and dangerous. When they arrived in America, most immigrants had to go to a place called Ellis Island outside of New York City. At Ellis Island, immigrants were inspected before they were allowed into the United States. By completing these activities, you will learn about some of these experiences.

 

Task:

Students will:

• Students will use the internet in order to view original pictures taken during the immigration period at Ellis Island.
  
• Students will build their their vocabulary by completing a Word Search puzzle and by defining the words related to the project.
  
• Students will develop reading skills by reading a true account of the journey to America told by an immigrant child.
  
• Students will develop their interviewing and writing skills by interviewing a person who is an immigrant from another country to the United States and publishing their story on the web for others to read.

 

Process:

At the computer:

Read all directions before you click.

Vocabulary

Look up the vocabulary words below in a dictionary or in an encyclopedia. Write down a brief definition or statement about each word.

America	examination	journey	steerage	immigration	baggage
Ellis Island	deformity	Poland	Calvin Coolidge	ferry	Vaudeville
newcomer	Yiddish	inspection	disease

Click on Word Search Puzzle - Immigration. Print and complete the vocabulary puzzle.

Click on Stories of Yesterday & Today: Immigration

Tour Ellis Island

1. Click on Interactive Tour of Ellis Island.
2. Click on the arrow at the bottom of the picture to advance to the map.
3. Click on #1 The Ferry to begin learning about arriving at Ellis Island. Look at the picture and talk about it with your class.
4. At the bottom of the page, click on the link that provides additional information for that picture. Read and discuss this information with your classmates.
5. Use the "Go" menu to go back to the Ellis Island Tour: Map Index. Complete the tour by clicking on each number to learn more about what took place as immigrants came to Ellis Island.
6. Use the "Go" menu to go back to Immigration: Stories of Yesterday & Today.

A Boy's Journey

1. Print Relive A Boy's Journey worksheet.
2. Use the Go menu to go back to the Stories of Yesterday & Today: Immigration site.
3. Click on the link to Relive A Boy's Journey. Read the story and answer the questions for each section.

 

Learn More About Immigrants

In this activity, you will prepare yourself to interview someone who was born in another country and moved to America. At the Yesterday & Today: Immigration Site, click on Oral History Report. Read steps 1 & 2 in conducting an interview. Print out the questions to ask during the interview listed in step 3. Conduct your interview. When available, publish your interview in step 4.

Test your knowledge!

Take the Immigration Quiz and see how much you have learned!

 

On-line Resources:

• Word Search Puzzle - Immigration
• Stories of Yesterday & Today: Immigration site
• A Boy's Journey worksheet
• Immigration Quiz

Other Resources:

• "If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island"
  Novel by Ellen Levine
  ISBN #0-590-43829-8
  This book answers many questions about immigration, about Ellis Island, and about starting a new life in America.
  
• "Immigration to the U.S."
  Video Tape form American History for Children Video Series
  This film is an excellent introduction to this unit. It can be ordered at the following location:
  
  Library Video Company
  P.O. Box 1110
  Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
  Phone: 1-800-843-3620

 

Evaluation:

Student's work will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Work is done cooperatively. Each student contributes and time is spent on task.
2. Work is completed on time.
3. Worksheets and quiz will be graded.
4. Published interview will be graded on content, neatness grammar and spelling.

 

Conclusion:

After completing the Immigration WebQuest, you will have learned about early immigration and arriving at Ellis Island. You will understand why the United States is called the nation of all nations.

 

Immigration WebQuest was designed Donna Martin, Instructional Technology Specialist in Guilford County Schools, Greensboro NC.

GCS WebQuests