Island Students Take Imaginary Trip to Ellis Island To Study Immigration
By Karen Gould

Students dressed in German atire as they learned about other cultures during March reading month. From left are Blake Ruddle, Hailey Armstrong, Austin Jaruzel, Onaca Bennett, and Paul Wandrie. (Photographs courtesy of Susan Bennett)

Mackinac Island kindergarten through seventh grade students traveled back in time by more than 80 years throughout the month of March as they studied immigration and culture as part of their reading month program.

Elementary teachers worked together to map out a plan that provided students with handson events and incorporated history, social studies, and reading, said Laura Eiseler, who teaches second and third grade.

"It's fun for the students and the staff," said Ms. Eiseler.

The program began Monday, February 27, with parents telling students the county of origin of their ancestors. That information was brought to school, where the main corridor is lined with flags from countries all over the world. Students' names are matched with country of origin of their ancestors and listed below the corresponding flag.

Then on Friday, March 3, students pretended to be immigrants as they arrived at school, which was set up to simulate Ellis Island. Ellis Island, now a national monument, was the main processing point for immigrants and is off the New York shore. More than 22 million people arrived at Ellis Island between 1892 and 1924, and Mackinac Island teachers wanted to give students a better understanding of the historic process immigrants went through, explained Ms. Eiseler.

From left, high school social studies teacher and elementray music teacher Jessica Clark, Xaviar McClintock, Talon Greenlee, Onaca Bennett, and Keely Johnson play a game March 9.

Upon arrival to Ellis Island, students carried luggage and waited in long lines as they were processed through immigration in a seven-step process. They began in the communication line, where they were given a name tag. Names were spelled out phonetically, just as they were at Ellis Island. Next their baggage was tagged and left in the baggage room.

The third step involved a medical exam, where teachers looked for coughs or colds. An interview with a legal inspector followed and students were asked questions including what they had learned about immigration. Stage five was the money exchange, and students showed they had money by producing a nickel they had to bring in for the event. The final stage was called journey's end where students were sent to a town which was their new home.

Snacking on international foods during the sleep over are (from left) second and third grade teacher Laura Eiseler, Morgan Brodeur-Bunker, Onaca Bennett, and Amelia Roe.

During the learning event, teachers explained what life was like on the ship as people traveled to America, and why people left their homelands and emigrated to the U.S. Students also learned about the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

In addition, students explored the legends and learn about the food, music, dance, crafts, and language of three countries including Italy, Ireland, and Germany. Ms. Eiseler said teachers chose those countries because most of the people living on Mackinac Island have ancestors from Ireland and Germany. They also chose Italy because it was a country students knew little about.

On Thursday, March 9, a sleep-over at the school included games and food from around the world.

"It's so much fun over here to get all the different ages together," said Ms. Eiseler.

Throughout the month, Ms. Eiseler explained, students read books about people who live in other countries.