Parents,
This year the 5th graders are going to participate in a simulation of the experience that an immigrant would have had arriving at Ellis Island at the turn of the century. Your child will be given the identity of either an immigrant arriving at Ellis Island in 1900 or an Ellis Island processor who came to America as an immigrant 20 years earlier. In order to make the simulation a productive and enjoyable learning experience for all, we are asking that for homework your child should work with you to research and learn about where his/her identity came from, why he/she emigrated, about his/her personal beliefs, and personality. The students may also want to try to learn a few words in the immigrant's native language!
On Friday, December 16th, the students will participate in the simulation of arriving and going through Ellis Island. Each child will be given a handbook describing this day and his or her individual responsibilities that you may also want to read. Each immigrant will have a checklist that he or she will carry through Ellis Island and is filled out at each check point by a processor. Who will earn enough points to remain in the New World? Who will have to return to their homeland? We will find out on the 16th. On that day, students will be expected to dress as their immigrant or processor role. Costumes/props should be brought to school in a bag, and the students will change after specials. Immigrants should also bring their name tag, and processors should bring their desk plate. Instructions on how to make these will be given in class. We are also asking that students bring in a food item from their role's country of origin. This should be an hors d'oeuvre type of food that can be brought to school in the morning, kept in the classroom, and served easily after lunch. The food is not a requirement, but the more people who participate, the bigger the feast!
Thank you for your help in making this learning activity a success. Please note: This is a student activity in a small area of the school, therefore parents cannot attend.
