Discussion

Week Five Discussion:

Click on the link below and go to teacherscholastic.com's interactive tour of Ellis Island.

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/tour/

 

On the home page, click on "Start the Tour" and click your way through the Ellis Island interactive tour. Make sure you read the "Did you know?" Sections on the right hand column. There are also videos, photos, and audio clips along the tour.

Next, watch the virtual field trip of Ellis Island that you can again access through the home page tab.

Once you have completed the tour, return to the home page and click on the tab at the top titled "Meet Young Immigrants." Choose one of the following children, and read their story or watch their brief video.

  Asya - from the Ukraine

  Taylor - from South Korea

  Vandi - from Sierra Leone

  Sadana - from India

  Gabriella - from Mexico

Discuss the following related to this website.

1. What feelings and emotions were elicited as you progressed through the interactive tour? Compare and contrast the structure of Ellis Island to the process of becoming a U.S. citizen and entering the United States legally today. Is it difficult today to become a U.S. citizen? What are your thoughts about President Obama's recent immigration reform?

2. Which child's story did you choose to follow? What about his or her story impacted you, broadened your knowledge, or increased your cultural awareness?

3. Explore the culture of the child you selected. You might want to review newspapers, the internet, watch the evening news, etc. What are the major issues going on in this child's homeland right now? If you were counseling this child, what issues might arise related to the current events in their homeland?