Introduction

Welcome. You have come through the door to begin a new life in America. It has been a difficult journey. Your life in the United States will be different from the life you left behind. As an immigrant, you came to the United States of America for a reason. It could have been to escape persecution, to improve your life, or to live in freedom.

Castle Garden, Ellis Island and Angel Island became gateways to a new life for many people from all over the world.

The Quest

With a partner choose a role as an immigrant or a newspaper reporter.

As the immigrant, you will research one of the nationality's ancestral roots. You will create a children's book telling about your life in the Old World, your life in the New World, your journey to the New World, and your dreams for your NEW LIFE.

As the newspaper reporter, you will research the arrival of an immigrant (your partner). Using her/his nationality, compose a feature story that will appear in the Sunday edition of the New York Times.

The Process and Resources

Follow the instructions in Phase 1 & Phase 2.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Use the Internet information linked below to accomplish your tasks. Be creative in exploring the information so that you complete your assignments as fully and insightfully as you can.

• Internet Modern History Sourcebook: US Immigration - This site is an excellent resource for those trying to learn more about the history of immigration to the United States.
• Family Search - Use this site to locate records that may contain information about your ancestors. It can also help you find a family history center near you.
• Ancestry.com--Genealogy and Family History Records - The site claims to be the largest collection of family history records on the Web. Explore your family tree!
• Ellis Island - This online exhibit allows you to experience Ellis Island as one of the over 12 million people who landed here. The site contains audio and video clips.
• The National Park Service - Everything you ever wanted to know about Ellis Island.
• Living Conditions for Immigrants - This site contains photos depicting living conditions of many immigrants who settled in New York City.
• The American Immigration Homepage - A wonderful page full of useful information on immigration (e.g. reasons for immigrantion, ports of arrival, reception by other Americans, etc.)
• Reasons for Immigration - Visit this site to find out the reasons why immigrants from around the world have come to the United States.
• Ancestors in America - This site can help visitors extend and enrich their perception of the experiences of Asian immigrants to the United States. Areas of particular interest include Ancestors , which contains video clips from the series; Documents, which contains digital versions of important documents throughout our history that impacted directly on immigrants trying to establish themselves in this country; Tell Us Your Stories, a section that encourages visitors to tell their stories; and Discover Your Ancestors, resources for conducting genealogy work.
• New York, NY, Ellis Island -- Immigration: 1900-1920 - This web site presents stereoscopic (3D) photographs of Ellis Island from the early 1900s.
• From One Life to Another - Immigration has come to shape the very world we live in today, especially in Europe and America. Even so, it is oftentimes easy for people to forget their pasts, no matter how relevant it is to their current situation. From One Life to Another seeks to rectify this problem by combining the stories of the past with the technical innovations of today. This site follows immigrants from their home countries, across the Atlantic, and eventually to their new lives in America. The site explores varying aspects of this world-wide cultural change and allows visitors to test their knowledge of the subjects covered. In addition, users can add their own articles and stories to the site, thereby creating a true account of the immigrants of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Letters from an Immigrant - Bertha Starke Geerdts came to Milwaukee from Germany 100 years ago. Although she was happy in her new land, she never forgot her ties to her family, and she wrote letters faithfully. This collection of her correspondence in both German and English covers a span of time from 1890 through 1911 and offers striking glimpses into the ties that bind. The site also provides links to her family.
• Ellis Island (official site) - The official site of Ellis Island gives a brief introduction to the museum near the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. Many students can probably trace their ancestors to this center, where 12 million immigrants passed on their way to new lives between 1892 and 1954. This is a site of information for prospective visitors to Ellis Island, but it also contains an activity that will engage online visitors to take part in the history of the island. The American Immigrant Wall of Honor allows visitors to search for immigrants' names and to add names as appropriate. Simply have first and last name and country of origin handy to conduct your search of all the immigrants processed here!
• Coming to America - Areas of interest: In our own voices--Stories of Immigration, Taste of Home--Family Recipes, and Immigration Paperwork.
• Voyages: Stories of America and the Sea - Coming to America: Immigrant passages. Do you know how your ancestors came to America? Unless they were Native Americans, the answer is most likely 'on a ship' (Click on the 'Immigration' link on the main page).
• Angel Island - History of Chinese immigrants at Angel Island
• Immigration: The Changing Face of America - This presentation will introduce you to the history of immigrants who came to America from all over the world. An area of particular interest: The Great American Potluck.
• The Many Faces of America: Immigration - Immigrants come to the United States from many countries. This site lists some of the countries immigrants came from in 1998.
• The City - This bilingual site sponsored by PBS presents stories of Latin American immigrants in the United States, as well as an overview of U.S. immigration history and issues. Areas of interest: The Stories, The Film, and Comming to America (U.S. Immigration Timeline, Immigration Quiz, and Glossary).
• The New Americans: Immigration, America's Story - Immigration Timeline
• The New Americans: Immigration, America's Story - Immigrants' personal stories
• Myths and Realities - The site discusses myths and realities related to immigration issues.
• Discover Your Ancestors: Asian American genealogy resources - A very informative page that provides resources for conducting genealogy work.
• Lower East Side Tenement Museum - The purpose of the museum is to to preserve and interpret the history of the immigrant experience on Manhattan's Lower East Side.
• Immigration Station - Another informative site about the history of Angel Island.
• Angel Island: A Hell for Some Who Sought the Gold Mountain - One more site about Angel Island.
• Some Were Destined For Fame - This sites lists a number of famous immigrants.
• Angel Island: Immigrant Journeys of Chinese-Americans - An oral history of Chinese detainees.
• Angel Island: California's Immigration Station - This site describes the processing of Asian immigrants through Angel Island in San Francisco Bay - the 'Ellis Island' of the west.
• Famous & Notable Immigrants - A site about immigrants who made significant contributions to their adopted country.
• The Immigration Today WebQuest - An informative WebQuest
• US Citizenship and Immigration Services - Former INS homepage. Here you will find out everything you need to know pertaining to current U.S. immigration rules and regulations.
• Multi-Cultural Calendar - Every country and culture has its own holidays and celebrations. You can click on a country where your ancestors came from and find the information on a holiday celebrated there.
• Fast Facts on Today’s Newcomers - A quick overview of facts related to current U.S. immigration issues.
• Ellis Island Cookbook - Every country has its own traditions around food and eating. Favorite foods and recipes are a big part of the 'culture' immigrants to the U.S. brought with them. If you follow the link to the Featured Recipe, you will find out what this month’s recipe is, where it came from and if it is a food prepared for a particular holiday or time of year.
• History Channel Exhibits: Ellis Island - These immigrants passed through Ellis Island and went on to illustrious careers.
• The Immigration Experience - Immigrants didn't always enter New York through Ellis Island. This page presents the history of Castle Garden (also known as Castle Clinton).
• Castle Clinton National Monument - A brief history of Castle Garden (today, it is known as Castle Clinton National Monument).

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Each individual from your WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.

2. Read through the files linked to your group. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

4. In order to accomplish your task, be prepared to focus what you've learned from the links for your role into one main opinion.

Immigrant

As the immigrant, you will provide your information for your book on the following topics:

Your nationality and ethnicity

Your family's names, ages, and occupations

An explanation of your culture such as the customs, language, and food of your homeland

Your reason/reasons for leaving

Your experiences on the ship (include the length of the journey and conditions aboard the ship)

Newspaper reporter

As the reporter, your articles will cover your research on the following areas:

The treatment of the immigrants/the reception by other Americans

The immigrants' affect/impact on America (positive or negative)

The opportunities for and the success of the immigrants

The laws restricting immigration, if applicable to the times

Be sure to include the feelings and emotions expressed by both the immigrants and the citizens of New York. While your news story will be based on actual historical facts, it is expected that certain aspects of your story will be historical fiction.

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

Share your findings with your partner.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

To get feedback on what you have come up with, please e-mail the contact below.

Your Contact is: Ms. Slava Sidorov

Conclusion

From this WebQuest you will be given the opportunity to learn more about the difficulties an immigrant's family experiences in their journey to a new homeland. You will also become aware of the cultures and political situations around the world.
Assessment of your work will be evaluated using a rubric that will be distributed in class.