Immigration

Whether they landed at Plymouth Rock or Ellis Island or San Francisco, immigrants from all nations have been coming to this land for hundreds of years in search of a better life--better economic opportunities, political and religious freedoms, the American Dream. Learn about the experiences and contributions of immigrants from all over the world to the United States through these direct links on the Times’ Launch Point Web site: https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint

Here are the best sites for getting your schoolwork done or for just having fun.

Level 1

Scholastic: The First Thanksgiving: At Thanksgiving we remember the Pilgrims who sailed to America to seek religious freedom and the Wampanoag tribe that helped them survive in a new land. Learn about the Pilgrims’ adventures on the Mayflower and in Plymouth and read an interview with a modern-day Wampanoag.

https://teacher.scholastic.com/thanksgiving/index.htm

Immigration: Stories of Yesterday and Today: Take an interactive tour of Ellis Island and compare an 8-year-old Polish boy’s journey to America in the 1920s with the more recent arrivals of five children from such places as Sudan, Vietnam and Yugoslavia. Research immigration for yourself by reviewing recent statistics and learn how to create an oral history scrapbook by interviewing an immigrant in your community.

https://teacher.scholastic.com/immigrat/index.htm

Port of Entry: Immigration: Poet Walt Whitman once said that America was “not merely a nation but a teeming nation of nations.” Be a historical detective by viewing and interpreting archival photos of immigrants living in New York City in the 1900s.

https://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/activity/port/start.html

Level 2

Ellis Island: The New World: Discover how Ellis Island was the gateway for many U.S. immigrants by hearing personal tales and reviewing the examination questions that determined whether people would be admitted or deported. View archival videos, photos and blueprints and find out how to track your own ancestry.

https://www.historychannel.com/ellisisland/index2.html

La Ciudad/The City: According to the National Academy of Sciences, the average immigrant contributes $1,800 more in taxes than he or she receives in benefits. Learn about immigration facts, issues, myths and legislation as you explore the stories of immigrants from Mexico, South America, Central America and the Caribbean.

https://www.pbs.org/thecity/index.html

Ancestors in the Americas: Asian immigrants were not only an important part of the Gold Rush and the building of the Transcontinental Railroad but also were sailors and settlers in America in the mid-1700s. Learn about the Asian immigration experience in the Americas through articles, video clips and family stories that have been submitted online.

https://www.cetel.org/

Level 3

PBS: The New Americans: The inscription on the Statue of Liberty says, “Give me your tired, your poor / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Learn about the history, contributions, perceptions and misconceptions of the immigrant experience in the U.S., learn how to find out when your own family arrived to America and see if you can pass the citizenship test on U.S. history and government.

https://www.pbs.org/kcet/newamericans/

From One Life to Another: Explore the experiences of Irish, Italian, Jewish and Swedish immigrants in America through this high school student project that features articles, tours, a timeline, genealogy resources, a trivia game and a slide show dramatization of the voyage to Ellis Island.

https://library.thinkquest.org/26786/

Center for Immigration Studies: Read recent news on immigration, access current immigration statistics and access articles and resources on pertinent issues ranging from legislation to impact on trade.

https://www.cis.org/

Launch Point is produced by the UC Irvine department of education, which reviews each site for appropriateness and quality. Even so, parents should supervise their children’s use of the Internet. This column was designed by Marvin Gebler, Liz Yim, Kelly Whitten and Anna Manring.

EXPLORER’S QUEST

The answer to this Internet quiz can be found in the sites at right.

What was the total number of immigrants who landed at Ellis Island?

CLUE: See Ellis Island: The New World

Find What You Need to Know: Have a project on California history? Need help doing a math problem? Launch Point covers more than 150 topics for getting your schoolwork done. Go to https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/ for the full list of subjects and direct links to the best Internet sites.

Answer to last week’s Quest: Scissors, catapults and balance scales are all examples of levers.