The Immigrant Experience and Ellis Island

Project Description

Kildeer Countryside Elementary School in Long Grove, IL will provide an informative and
immersive experience for fourth grade students during their comprehensive unit of study on
immigration. Teachers will introduce students to the topic with a novel discussion, followed by an
analysis of select non-fiction texts, culminating in a grade-wide simulation of the immigrant
experience while entering Ellis Island, done in the school library. The fourth grade team first put
together the simulation last year, and is eager to repeat the process again, but is looking for more
resources to enhance the learning experience for the students. Through studying immigrants,
discussing comparisons to immigrant life today, and drawing on personal family experiences, the
students will gain a better understanding and perspective of the immigration process, as well as the
beginning and acclimation of a new life. To continue on with this project, we are asking for
$1165.00, which will be spent on the following:

● Books
At Ellis Island: a history in many voices by Louise Peacock; Fact Finders. Immigration Today
[4-item set] by Capstone Press; Immigrant Kids by Russell Freedman; In the Shadow of
Lady Library: immigrant stories from Ellis Island by Danny Kravitz; and Refugee by Alan
Gratz
● DVD
History Kids: Ellis Island and the Immigration Process
● Online Resource
“Bringing Ellis Island into Your Classroom—An Immigration Simulation”

Management Plan

The project will take place from April 1, 2019-April 19, 2019—with the Ellis Island simulation on
April 18, 2019—and will be broken down into three segments.

● In class
Students will begin the unit by reading aloud Refugee in class, as well as having whole class and
small group discussions and will write a short book report on the novel. Following the
novel reading, they will look at other texts and discussing similarities and differences of the
immigrant experience from country to country and from past to present. The fourth grade
classes will finish with a classroom study of Ellis Island, where the classes will gather
together to view History Kids: Ellis Island and the Immigration Process. Each classroom
teacher will have a copy of the each book in the classroom, with additional copies being in
the library for student reference as needed.
● Guest Speakers
Immigrant family members of students volunteer to share their stories with the entire grade level.
Students are invited to ask questions after the presentation. They will then compare what
they heard to what they have been learning and discussing in class.
● Ellis Island Simulation
All one hundred fourth grade students will receive an identity of a real person who was on Ellis
Island and will go through the process they went through to enter America. Fourth grade
teachers, technology coach, information literacy coach, support staff members,
administrative assistant, librarian, and parent volunteers will provide support and help bring
the simulation to life.

Evaluation

This unit of study is based on the following Illinois English Language Arts Standards:
3: Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text,
including what happening and why, based on specific information in text.
7: Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs,
diagrams, timelines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the
information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.
And the following national U.S. history standards:
1: Understands family life now and in the past, and family life in various places long ago.
5: Understands the causes and nature of movements of large groups of people into and within the
United States, now and long ago.

After completion of the unit, students will create short video presentations of what they learned. A
Google slideshow presentation compiling all of the videos will be made and posted on the
school’s website.

The fourth grade teachers, who teach a unit on immigration every year, will continue to use these
materials, as well as put together an Ellis Island simulation.
Press Release

Thanks to the generosity of Helping Hands, Kildeer Countryside Elementary is proud to introduce
the fourth graders’ immersive unit on immigration. Through reading and discussing
thought-provoking texts, the students have gained vast insight on the immigrant experience, as well
as how it relates to personal and present experiences. Their hard work is coming to fruition with
the soon-to-be annual Ellis Island simulation, where each student will take on the persona of
someone entering America through Ellis Island. From this experience, students are expected to
better understand the difficult process of beginning and acclimating to a new life.
 Budget

of Item ber of Copies Needed per Copy

is Island: a history in many 0

voices by Louise Peacock

inders. Immigration Today 0

[4-item set] by Capstone Press

rant Kids by Russell Freedman 0

Shadow of Lady Liberty: 0

immigrant stories from Ellis
Island by Danny Kravitz

ee by Alan Gratz 0

y Kids: Ellis Island and the 0

Immigration Process DVD

ng Ellis Island into Your

Classroom

Total $1165.00

Collaboration Budget

● PTO Grant: $500 to use on costumes/props for Ellis Island simulation

● Local Contribution: guest speakers volunteering their time
● District Equipment: Free use of projector for movie showing