Second graders re-create Ellis Island

    The immigrants traveled thousands of miles to a strange land, leaving their loved ones behind in the Old World. Some of them arrived only to be told to turn around and get back on the boat. That was the experience of Stewart Elementary second graders Friday afternoon, who were re-enacting in their classrooms the voyage of millions of immigrants to Ellis Island in the early 20th century.

    The second graders have been learning about immigration in their social studies class since the beginning of January. They?ve read stories about immigrants, and particularly about Ellis Island near New York City, which was once the main portal for immigrants coming from Europe. On Friday, the second graders turned part of the school into Ellis Island.

    In the gymnasium, the kids huddled together as if they were on a boat. The ?first-class passengers? were given more space and allowed to sit on chairs. Second grade teacher Joan Hippen said the real first-class passengers who arrived at Ellis Island did not have to go through the kind of examination the rest of the immigrants did.

Once the boat landed, the students went from room to room, getting a medical check-up and having their passport stamped.

    As they moved from one station to another, the kids had to haul around a box of supplies that represented their luggage. They filled their boxes with pencils, books, gloves and mittens. They also wore their coats because, after all, Ellis Island was very cold for much of the year.

    At one of the passport stations, kids were interviewed on topics such as why they were coming to America and what they planned to do when they got here. Volunteer Boni Yoder asked a few questions of the ?immigrants? and then stamped their ?passport? if she felt they answered the questions satisfactorily. The passport contains the student?s school photo and information about him or her. One of Yoder?s interviewees was Emma Herr, daughter of Jennifer and William Herr. 

For the full story, see the Feb. 15 edition of The Washington Evening Journal