Ellis Island immigration unit for Grades 3-5 (Years 4-6, KS2): slideshow, role-play simulation game, 19-page workbook and posters on US immigration history.

Pupils follow the journey through Ellis Island step by step, then take on the role of a young immigrant from 1900 and make decisions at each stage.

What is included

• Presentation (15 slides with historical photographs): who the immigrants were, first sight of the Statue of Liberty, the baggage room, the stairs and the “six-second” medical exam, the 29 questions, Isle of Hope or Isle of Tears, the Stairs of Separation, the Kissing Post, Ellis Island today
• Immigration Role-Play Game (13 pages): how to play, 12 character cards (Italy, Poland, Russia, Ireland, Morocco, Germany, Japan…), 8 challenge cards (medical inspection, missing papers, name change, language barrier, family separation…), team mission sheet, reflection pages and a certificate
• Workbook (19 pages): why people came, would you move, my suitcase, the medical exam, the legal exam, steerage, feelings, the Statue of Liberty, travel then and now, a day at Ellis Island, a new beginning
• 4 posters (2 colour versions in each format) showing the Ellis Island journey

Ways to use

• A 1-2 week history topic on migration
• Drama and speaking lessons with the role cards
• Empathy and diversity discussions in PSHE or citizenship
• Classroom display with the posters

The workbook is split into 3 parts for easy download. PDF, US Letter workbook (choose “Fit to page” to print on A4); slides in 16:9. English.