Immigration program gives kids chance to experience difficulties
Juan Angel, a Millbrook Elementary School fifth-grader, has an intriguing family background: His mom's mother is from South Korea and his dad is from Mexico.
In a school activity recently, Juan portrayed a Scandinavian immigrant who had arrived at Ellis Island in the early 20th century.
"I learned that it was pretty hard for immigrants to get through Ellis Island because they didn't know the language," he said.
The entire fifth-grade participated in the Immigration Station Simulation Rotation. The project gave the children a country of origin, and many wore costumes to match. They went through medical, legal and character "stations" manned by volunteers before getting the opportunity to take the citizenship oath of allegiance.
Teacher Carole Parsons said the Sand River History Project provided strong support for the Millbrook venture. She is one of 40 teachers in Aiken, Edgefield and Saluda counties who are participating in Sand River - a nearly $1 million federal grant over three years that is providing professional development for K-12 in American history.
Jim McNeill, a Silver Bluff High School teacher, spearheaded the application process earlier this year. Parsons has attended a three-day seminar at USC Aiken and attended a program through the National Council of Social Studies.
"As a result, we came up with materials that are tailored to fit us," Parsons said.
The Millbrook event focused on the first big wave of immigrants to Ellis Island from Europe, said teacher Julie Coleman, who was dressed as the Statue of Liberty.
"This is a great way to bring that to life," she said. "We had the children research their own pasts and discuss the different countries with people who had come overseas. We're getting the kids to repeat what the immigrant went through, how many of them struggled and yet how so many of them found success in America."
Some students participated in a play. The children also read historical fiction, including "Dreams of the Golden Country" by Kathryn Lasky. The story relates the diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish immigrant from Russia, and her early life in New York.
The Sand River grant has several collaborations, including USCA, the National Council for History Education and the American Institute for History Education. Alecia Wagoner, the grant manager, joined the Millbrook teachers for the event.
"Our purpose is to improve the teaching of American history," she said. "There's not a lot of money that goes into social studies for most of South Carolina. This grant will help teachers do a lot of projects."
Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.