Immigrant Day helped Crabapple Lane Elementary students gain a deep appreciation for those who made the journey to America at the turn of turn of the 20th century.
The big day capped off the 5th grade’s Turn of the Century unit. To honor the risk that millions of people took to immigrate to the United States, students were tasked with researching countries and cultures they may have never heard of before, then sharing what they learned with their peers, teachers, and parents.
“We wanted the students to research different countries and understand why people chose to immigrate to the USA from their ‘home’ country,” said teacher Shannon Knowles. “They had to be able to talk about why they left (the push), what brought them to the USA (the pull), and what routes they took to get here.”
Students picked countries from a pre-approved list, and they presented all they learned on Immigrant Day. They tell the full story of the journey to America, down to which city they settled in and how they contributed to the local economy in that specific region.
The project strengthens their critical thinking skills while they learn how to investigate, analyze, and present information in a way that is both meaningful and engaging for others.
“They had to become experts on their country and come up with their journeys and talk about the hardships they faced on the ships and hardships they faced when they first came to America,” said Knowles. “Lots of research and lots of creativity was involved!”
For teacher Michael Wamsley, Immigrant Day is extra special. His grandparents immigrated from Italy just before World War II broke out in Europe and fought for the US to help liberate their country.
“In New York, I was surrounded by families from all over the world who had similar stories and learned very early about the vast contributions of other cultures in making our country what it is today,” said Wamsley.
Immigrant Day, the brainchild of now-Peeples Elementary teacher Nicole Williams, was also a favorite activity of Wamsley’s child when he attended Robert J. Burch Elementary.
“Through this experience, the students gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of immigration and the courage it took for so many to leave their homes in search of a better life,” said Wamsley. “Beyond just the facts and figures, I wanted them to connect with the personal stories of immigrants—the challenges they faced, the reasons they left, and the dreams they had for their future. By walking in the shoes of these individuals through research and creative storytelling, the students developed empathy and a greater appreciation for the diverse cultures and histories that have shaped America.”
Posted 11/4/2024
