COMING TO ELLIS ISLAND
Miss Alexis Hyde
4th Grade
Minoa Elementary
NEW YORK STATE STANDARDS

NYS Learning Standard #1: History of the United States and New York
-Key Idea 1: The study of New York State and United States history requires an analysis of the
development of American culture, its diversity and multicultural context, and the ways people
are unified by many values, practices, and traditions.
-Performance Indicator: Know the roots of American culture, its development from many different
traditions, and the ways many people from a variety of groups and backgrounds played a role
in creating it.
NCSS Theme: Culture
 Objectives:
-Students will be able to identify and locate Ellis Island.
-Students will be able to identify what an immigrant is.
-Students will be able to identify the process of becoming a U.S. citizen at Ellis
Island.

HISTORY OF ELLIS ISLAND
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/tour/index.htm
•Ellis Island is located at the mouth of the Hudson River
in New York Harbor
•At one time the main entrance for immigrants entering
the United States from January 1, 1892 until November 12,
1954.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellis_Island
IMAGINE THIS WAS YOU OR YOUR FAMILY……….
…..it’s the year 1892
and you arrive at Ellis
Island
…..you know little or no English and
have been on a cramped boat with little
food and terrible conditions. Your
family has come to American seeking
freedom.
WHAT IS AN IMMIGRANT?
Dictionary definition:
(noun) A person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent
residence.
~Or~
A person who leaves one country to settle permanently in another.

What are some possible countries immigrants came from??
ARRIVAL TO AMERICA
 Imagine……your on a ferry coming into the island, what do you
expect to see?
CHECK IN
 Immigrants entered into the baggage room, where their belongings
were left to be inspected.
THE GRAND HALL WAY- STAIRS OF SEPARATION
 The immigrants after dropping baggage off entered The Grand Hall
Way. Why do you think it was called the “Stairs of Separation”?
Doctors stood at the top of the stairs
looking for anyone that was having a
difficult time or seemed to be sick or
diseased.
What would happen if you were
suspected of being sick or disabled?
MEDICAL EXAMS

If suspected of being sick or disabled the immigrant was marked with an X on there clothing
and then given a medical exams to look for spreadable diseases. If an immigrant did have an
incurable disease or was disabled and not able to work they were sent back to their country on
a steamboat. 10% of immigrants were kept an examined until 1971 when complete medical
exams were given to all.
The immigrants being sent back were sent to dormitories to wait for the
steam boat
THE GREAT HALL- “THE REGISTRY ROOM”

After completing medical exams millions of immigrants were processed for the
admission to the United States. Immigrants went through a legal inspection.
Immigrants had to be able to….
MONEY EXCHANGE

Immigrants exchanged their homeland money for American dollars. With the
money they bought train tickets to travel to meet other family members. A
law created in 1909 required the immigrants to have a certain amount of
money before they were allowed to enter America. How much money do you
think that was?
THE JOURNEY’S END- “THE KISSING POST”

Just past the money exchange was the exit into America.

Did you know that………. Two thirds of the new Americans then boarded a ferry
to New Jersey, where the next leg of their American journey would begin. The
remaining third took the ferryboat to Manhattan to begin their new life in
New York City, only one mile away.

Why do you think is was called “The Kissing Post”?
FOLLOW UP ACTIVITY- “WHO LIVES IN AMERICA?”
Make Your Own Immigration Graph
Everyone is from somewhere. Find out where your classmates' families
originally came from, and compare your results with the national statistics.
Just follow these steps:
 Conduct a classroom survey. Ask everyone in your class what country or region
their families are originally from.
 Using the results from the survey, create a pie chart, bar graph, or table.
 Compare your class's results with the national results on the multi-column
table.

Does anyone have any questions?
RESOURCES
 Scholastic’s Interactive tour of Ellis Island:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/tour/index.htm
 History.com’s Gateway to Ellis Island
http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generi
c&content_type_id=1468&display_order=2&mini_id=1459
 Scholastic’s Immigration Activity- “Who lives in America”
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/facts.htm