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Ellis Island Project

Gateway to Dreams

"Gateway
to Dreams"

for
Mr. Jeskes U.S. History

An Ellis Island/Immigration WebQuest
250 points

 


Introduction

It is 1900 and the new century has begun. Your destination is America, where the streets are paved with gold and dreams become reality. You are one of thousands of immigrants arriving on Ellis Island everyday from far-away lands such as  Italy, Ireland, Germany, Poland, and Greece. We are very interested in learning all about your immigration experiences because the more we know about the past, the better prepared we are for the future. So step back to the past and look to the future. This WebQuest narrates your adventure to Ellis Island: Gateway to Dreams. 


Task

 -- You will recount your immigration and Ellis Island experience through the creation of a diary using pictures, journal entries, letters, artifacts, inspection papers, currency, identification, etc...to complete all ten requirements listed below. 

 -- Additionally you must complete any three of the five Ellis Island Project Activities also listed below. Project activities are to be completed seperately from your diary.

-- Upon completion of your diary and projects you should prepare a brief 7-10 minute presentation of both your diary and your projects.

Diary Requirements

1. Who are your family members?

  • How old is each person?

  • What are your names?

  • What are their trades or occupations?

2. What country have you come from?

  • Draw your country's flag.

  • Find and label your country on the map of Europe.

  • What money (currency) do you use?

  • What foods do you eat?

  • What language do you speak?

3. Why is your family leaving their homeland behind and risking so much to live in this new country?

4. Describe your experiences on the ship.

  • How long was your journey?

  • What were the conditions like?

5. What prized possessions did each of you bring?

  • Why did you choose to take those things with you?

6. Describe each of your emotions when you first saw America and "Lady Liberty."

7. Describe your experience going through immigration.

  • Did you go through Ellis Island?

  • What inspections did each of you have to go through?

  • What types of problems did each of you face?

8. Where will your family live?

9. Describe how your life be different in America.

  • how you will communicate with other people.

  • the foods you will eat.

  • the money you will use.

10. Think about all you have been through to risk coming to this country. Explain your feelings and thoughts.

 

 

Ellis Island Project Activities

1. Look for a copy of the famous poem "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus, which is carved on the base of the Statue of Liberty. Write an essay in which you analyze the poem, explain its meaning and consider its relevance for contemporary America. Why was that poem placed at the base of the Statue of Liberty? What was it designed to say about Amerca? Do you think the poem still represents Americans' attitudes toward immigration?

 

2. Imagine you are an immigrant arriving on Ellis Island around 1900. Write a journal entry describing your experiences with the health inspectors and the other bureaucrats on the island. How would you feel if you were questioned about your political beliefs? How would you feel if you were pulled aside and placed in the hospital for several days?

 

3. Draw a map of Ellis Island, locating it in New York harbor and identifying all the buildings on the island.

 

4. What does Ellis Island symbolize for Americans today? Write an essay in which you consider the significance of immigration in shaping an American identity. How did the period of immigration from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century change the character of the nation? How has the immigrant experience shaped the American experience?

 

5. Create a dictionary using all the following vocabulary words. Your dictionary must be alphabetized and each word must include: the part of speech, dictionary definition, and an original sentence.

Vocabulary
  • manifest
  • immigrant
  • indentured servant
  • deportation
  • epidemics
  • contagious
  • scarlet fever
  • anarchists
  • contagious diseases

 
  • steam ship
  • bureaucrat
  • bureaucratic
  • eugenics
  • bigamist
  • anarchist
  • irony
  • eluded
  • deterrent

 
  • steerage
  • ethnic
  • integrated
  • national origins
  • ambiguity
  • subversives
  • assimilate
  • radical
  • alien

 


Process

 -- You will come up with an immigrant ID and some background information necessary to complete this WebQuest. This is only the most basic information. You are encouraged to elaborate on this basic information (i.e. What city are you from? Do you have family or friends already in America?) This elaboration will make your enjoyment of this WebQuest even that much better.

 -- You will be working with the computer, searching the Internet, and using books and other resources to create your Ellis Island diary and projects. Use the list of Web sites listed in the Resource section as a starting point, but don't limit yourself there. Use your investigative skills to explore other sites and resources. Like many immigrants of the time, rely on your fellow countrymen for support and assistance as you venture to the new world.

 -- The requirements listed in the Task section are an outline to help you organize your information. If you choose to reorganize or combine questions be sure you provide all required pieces of information in your diary. Use a creative, first-person, narrative essay to complete each part. You may add anything you would like to your diary to enhance it's authenticity and realism.

 -- You will be given class time to research all the information, however, you may need additional time outside of class in order to complete the diary and projects. 

 -- Necessary materials will be provided in class if you need them, as well as other regular school supplies.


Resources

Internet

Other points of entry for the United States

Classroom and Media Center 

  • Print encyclopedias
  • Almanacs
  • Ellis Island and immigration resource books

Electronic References


Evaluation

You will be evaluated using this rubric:

  70% 80% 90% 100%
Answered all questions 7 of 10 8 of 10 9 of 10 10 of 10
Worked cooperatively Worked Poorly With Others Worked Well With Others Worked Very Well With Others Worked Extremely Well With Others
Managed time wisely Managed Time Poorly Managed Time Well Managed Time Very Well Managed Time Extremely Well
Varied use of resources Very Little Variety Little and Poor Variety Good and Somewhat Varied  Excellent and Varied
Documented sources Very Few Documented Some Documented Most All Documented All Documented
Wrote clear, creative and detailed information Unclear, Not Creative, and Few Details Somewhat Clear, Creative, and Detailed Clear, Creative, and Detailed Very Clear, Creative, and Detailed
Project Activities and Presentation Poor Writing and Presentation
1 of 3		 Not Clearly Written or Presented
2 of 3		 Well Written and Good Presentation
3 of 3		 Excellent Writing and Presentation
3 of 3
Organized diary and project Poory Organized Somewhat Organized Well Organized Extremely Well Organized


Conclusion

Now that you have made it to America it is time to reflect on your journey and experience. Was your transatlantic crossing what you thought it was going to be? Do you regret leaving your mother country? Were you and the others treated well during Ellis Island processing? What plans do you have now that you are here? Where will you live? What will you do for a living? Is America what you thought would be?

All of these question, as well as many others, are questions facing immigrants -- not only those of the past, but also those of the future.

Good Luck in America,
Gateway to Dreams!