As part of the Fourth Grade immigration study, we read the book
The Dragon’s Child

, by Laurence and Kathleen Yep during the past few weeks in library. The students noticed the differences between the journey through Ellis Island and Angel Island. They were amazed that American citizens who were of Chinese ethnicity had to face questioning each and every time that they came into the country.

In an effort to have the children feel what it is like to be questioned, I took some of the actual tasks of people facing immigration through Angel Island, and administered them to the Fourth Grade.

The were first asked to draw a map of their block. Then they had to label all of the buildings/apartments/stores and list who lived inside, as well as the tenent’s jobs and whether or not they were pet owners. Next they had to list all family members going back three generations and provide birth, death, and marriage dates for all where applicable. Then they were asked to arrange all of the living relatives into households, and describe where they live…including the number of windows and exits in each dwelling.

The students reactions? They were stressed. They felt like they don’t know much about their neighborhoods. “We don’t know what we should know….this doesn’t feel good.”

I think the students were left with a lasting impression. They were asked to go home and talk to their grown-ups about the test. Think about it. Could you pass?