49. Ellis Island Simulation

For a simulation of the immigrant experience circa 1900, students create an imaginary autobiography and put together clothing based on the identity of a person who came through Ellis Island. Students complete a questionnaire as part of the examination process.

One of the first social studies units of fourth grade is a study of Europeans who came through Ellis Island circa 1900. The whole grade visits the Ellis Island Immigration Museum and explores the reasons for coming to America, experiences at Ellis Island and what it was like to assimilate for this particular group of immigrants. This culminates in an Ellis Island Simulation the day before Thanksgiving recess. Each child is given an identity based on a real person who came through Ellis Island, asked to write an imaginary autobiography using the information in the identity profile, and put together attire for the day of the Simulation. Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Ireland and Eastern Europe are all represented among these immigrants. Each House’s classroom is turned into one “station” that would have existed at Ellis Island — for example, students are interviewed about character and vocation and receive a health check. Students arrive via the Ellis Island ferry (a.k.a. the elevator) and then experience having to wait in long lines, having their names changed by officials and having their documents filled with mistakes. Of course, all eventually are admitted into the country! It is an event that they remember throughout their years at Dalton.
—Sylena Goodman, Fourth Grade House Advisor