Chelsea students experience Ellis Island
February 16, 2012 11:44AM
Technology director Jake Nelson, acting as an immigration official, detains fourth-grader Isabelle Brace during the Ellis Island program. | Supplied Photo
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Fourth-grade students at Chelsea Intermediate School in Frankfort recently participated in an Ellis Island experience.
Students read the novel “If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island,” and the activity was the culmination of their studies. The students pretended they were immigrants who came through Ellis Island from other countries. Several school administrators and staff members acted as the government officials.
Students were encouraged to dress up as immigrants and to carry suitcases or bags. The sounds of people speaking European languages were piped through the gymnasium sound system to add to the Ellis Island experience.
The students pretended to disembark from ships and then went through inspections and saw the doctor before getting their passports stamped and/or going for further examinations or intelligence tests.
Some students entered the country without incident, but some were placed into the hospital because they failed their medical exam or into the detention area because they didn’t have the money required to enter the country.
The activity was intended to help students experience the hopes, dreams and fears that the immigrants at Ellis Island actually went through.
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