Ellis Island Expedition Series

Duration:

5 minutes, 27 seconds

This five-part video series explores the history and significance of Ellis Island for students. Part One is an introduction to the topic of immigration and explains how Ellis Island became the first federal immigration inspection station and describes some of the factors that led the site to become a part of the national park system. Guiding Questions: 1. What is immigration? Why do you think the federal government controls immigration? 2. How did steamships impact immigration?

 

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  Part Two: The Transatlantic Journey

  The second part of the Ellis Island Expedition series helps students understand where Ellis Island immigrants were coming from, why they were making the journey, and what it was like. Guiding Questions: 1. What are some major differences between life during the Ellis Island era and your life today? 2. What are push and pull factors? What kinds of push and pull factors were impacting Ellis Island immigrants?

  Duration:

  6 minutes, 37 seconds

 

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  Part Three: Medical Inspection

  The third part in the Ellis Island Expedition series gives students an idea about what immigrants may have experienced during the medical inspection. Ellis Island immigrants were required to be healthy enough to work and free of contagious diseases. However, if they were sick, they had an opportunity to recover at the Ellis Island Hospital. Guiding Questions: 1. What was the purpose of the medical inspection? 2. Explain how inspectors used their observation skills to give the medical inspection.

  Duration:

  6 minutes, 38 seconds

 

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  Part Four: Legal Inspection

  The fourth part of the Ellis Island Expedition series describes the legal requirements immigrants had to meet. Inspectors asked questions to verify immigrant’s answers with paperwork from the steamship. Those who didn’t pass their legal inspection right away had a chance to explain themselves at a Board of Special Inquiry Hearing. Guiding Questions: 1. How was the legal inspection similar to a quiz? 2. Why do you think inspectors asked immigrants if they had ever been to prison?

  Duration:

  4 minutes, 34 seconds

 

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  Part Five: Stairs of Separation

  The fifth and final video of the Ellis Island Expedition series explores some of the paths that immigrants took after leaving Ellis Island and how they made new homes within new communities in the United States. Guiding Questions: 1. Steamship companies gave inspections to immigrants boarding steamships before they sailed for the United States. What impact did this have on the immigrants? 2. What kinds of impacts do you think Ellis Island immigrants had on the United States?

  Duration:

  5 minutes, 9 seconds

 

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  Expedition Series Trailer

  Meet the rangers that will take you on a virtual tour of Ellis Island and take a peek at some behind the scenes fun.

  Duration:

  1 minute, 10 seconds

 

Series Lesson Plan

This guide was created to help teachers get the most out of the Expedition Series in their classrooms. The videos and lessons are targeted at upper elementary students, but can easily be modified for use with higher grades.

Teacher's Guide