In December, we took a great field trip to Ellis Island. The students pretended to be their immigrant characters in the year 1908.

Beckett: In the Great Hall I am standing terrified with the legal inspector making his move that determines my life.

Cecilia: The inspector kept questioning me as if I was hiding something. I didn’t know I would be led to mental tests.

Chase: I’m so excited to get off the boat. I go on the deck. I see the Statue of Liberty. I’m almost at Ellis Island. No more seasickness. No more.

The steerage passengers are upset that the first class passengers are getting off first. The captain gave us bread to make us feel better.

Dash: I am on the boat looking at the Statue of Liberty.

When I entered the Great Hall, I started to get nervous. Different emotions filled the cavern. What was in front of me in my journey was not yet to come. A bunch of hope and fear filled me. Filled other immigrants. And yet to come was something for me to keep on moving on this journey or to end this journey.

Freya: I wait to be inspected with goosebumps all over my body. Even though I am smiling I don’t feel that way.

Gray: I just came off the boat and I am in the Great Hall doing the legal inspection with my new best friend Dimitrios.

We were so happy that we were able to go to New York.

 

 

Imogen: I am with my friends and have just gotten off the boat. We are getting all our excitement out after being cramped on a boat. I am the most excited.

Jasiri: I am looking at the test-giver hoping to be let in.

Leo: I’m taking the test. I’ve passed and I’m very relieved.

Lily: I was scared for the inspections. I did not know if I was going to pass. I am the one in the scarf.

The lines were so long!

Luc: I am standing with some other steerage passengers and we have just arrived on Ellis Island.

Luca: This is me getting inspected. I was scared. I passed, I was so happy.

Mayer: At inspections, I was feeling queasy. Questions are being fired at you is not a good feeling.

Mia: This is me getting inspected. I was scared but when I passed I felt so happy.

Milla: I am taking the legal test, the last test. I could not explain the feeling I had at that time, scared, excited, worried, happy. When I passed my heart exploded!

Oliver: I just got off the boat with a couple of my good friends. I am about to go into the Great Hall.

The legal inspectors were very scary!

All the kids were playing as we watched our boat go back to England. We get to stay in New York!

I look out at the water and see the beautiful Statue of Liberty. I have made it to America.

Samuel: I am looking at Lady Liberty and I feel happy and sad. I was happy to go to Manhattan but sad because I am going to miss my grandfather.

Sophie: I am looking out at the Manhattan skyline through binoculars. I felt so happy that I passed the inspection.

Wyeth: I just passed the inspections and am waiting for the ferry with my friends, Emily and Madelia.

Zach: I just got to Ellis Island and made a friend named Kingston. I am smiling because I got past inspection.

For more photos, check out the photo album.