Island Journey Lesson Plan Island Journey Lesson Plan
Expressing Emotions Through Art: Ellis Island
Duration
3 x 50 Minutes
Audience
4th - 5th Grade
Approach
Active, Collaborative, Experiential
Objective
Express emotions about Ellis Island through symbolic art.
Why This Lesson Matters
Students explore the history and emotional impact of Ellis Island and immigration through art. By connecting historical events to personal feelings using words and symbols, students foster empathy and creativity while anchoring history in human experience.
Preparation & Materials
Art supplies (paper, markers, paints)
Historical images of Ellis Island (see Slides)
Sticky notes for feedback
Symbol Sketchpad Worksheet
Arrival Stories Discussion Guide
Traveler Reflection Log
Instructional Sequence
Day 1: The Gateway (Introduction & Discussion)
Introduction to Ellis Island (15 mins)
Begin with a brief introduction to Ellis Island's significance. Use the Island of Hope Slides to show archival images and discuss the initial emotions immigrants might have felt arriving in New York Harbor.
Group Discussion (15 mins)
Divide students into small groups. Use the Arrival Stories Discussion Guide to prompt conversations about immigration experiences and emotions like fear, hope, and uncertainty. Encourage family stories.
Brainstorming Session (20 mins)
Distribute the Symbol Sketchpad Worksheet . Students jot down words and draft symbols that represent the emotions discussed. Guide them to think about how visual icons (like a suitcase for a journey or a candle for hope) represent feelings.
Day 2: The Studio (Art Creation)
Art Creation (50 mins)
Provide art supplies. Instruct students to create an artwork expressing their understanding of the immigrant experience. They must incorporate at least 3 words and 3 symbols from their brainstorming session. Encourage personal expression and mixed media use.
Day 3: The Arrival (Review & Reflection)
Gallery Walk (20 mins)
Display artwork around the room. Students circulate, observing their peers' choices of symbols and colors. Provide sticky notes for students to leave "Stars and Wishes" (positive feedback and curious questions).
Reflection and Closure (30 mins)
Distribute the Traveler Reflection Log . Gather as a whole group to share key takeaways. Discuss: How does art help us understand history differently than just reading a textbook?
Arrival Stories Discussion Guide Official Entry
Arrival Stories
Form: DIS-1892
Discussion Guide
Group Number:
Date of Arrival:
1
What emotions do you think immigrants felt when arriving at Ellis Island?
Consider the journey across the ocean, the first sight of the Statue of Liberty, and the crowded Great Hall. Think about fear, hope, excitement, and uncertainty.
2
How might these emotions be similar or different from those of immigrants today?
Think about how travel has changed, why people move today, and what feelings stay the same even after 100 years.
3
Can you share a personal or family story related to immigration?
Every family has a journey. If you don't have a personal story, what is a story you have heard or read that moved you?
Port of New York INSPECTED Division of Humanities
Symbol Sketchpad Worksheet Symbol Sketchpad
Traveler Name:
Affix Photo
Manifest Page: 42-A
I. Emotional Vocabulary
List words that describe the complex feelings of an immigrant arriving at Ellis Island. Think about the tension between leaving home and finding hope. (Example: Uncertainty, Longing, Relief )
II. Visual Symbols
Draw simple symbols or icons that represent these emotions. A symbol doesn't have to be a realistic drawing—it should capture a feeling . (Example: A heavy iron lock for fear, a rising sun for hope).
Symbol 1
Symbol 2
Symbol 3
III. Artistic Vision
How will you use these words and symbols in your final art piece? Will they be hidden in the background, bold in the center, or part of a larger scene?
Island of Hope Slides The Port of New York
ISLAND OF HOPE
Exploring the Immigrant Experience at Ellis Island through Words and Symbols
The Gateway
From 1892 to 1954, over 12 million immigrants entered the United States through Ellis Island.
"For many, it was the 'Island of Hope.' For others, the 'Island of Tears.'"
The Great Hall, Ellis Island (c. 1910)
The Journey Inward
Imagine standing in these lines. What are you carrying?
Tangible
Baggage
Old Photographs
Family Bibles
Handmade Tools
Emotional
Baggage
Hope for Future
Fear of Rejection
Grief for Home
Uncertain
Baggage
Language Barriers
Health Exams
Legal Questions
Translating History to Art
History isn't just about dates and facts. It's about human feelings.
Words
Directly naming the emotion (e.g., "COURAGE")
Symbols
Shapes that stand for a bigger idea (e.g., Anchor = Stability)
Your Creative Mission
1
Create an artwork that captures the emotional weather of Ellis Island.
2
Incorporate at least 3 words and 3 symbols from your worksheet.
3
Use color and texture to help tell your story. Be bold.
Studio Time
Traveler Reflection Log Traveler Reflection Log
Looking Back at the Island of Hope
Traveler:
Final Entry Date:
I. The Creative Choice
Think about the symbols and colors you chose for your artwork.
Which symbol in your artwork are you most proud of, and what does it represent?
How did you use color to show the difference between "hope" and "fear"?
II. Connecting to History
Reflect on the immigrant experience at Ellis Island.
After creating your art, how do you feel differently about the people who arrived at Ellis Island?
How does making art help us understand history in a way that just reading a book cannot?
A Final Word...
If you could say one thing to an immigrant child arriving at Ellis Island in 1900, what would it be?
© Ellis Island Arts Program • Narrative Reflection Series • Grade 4-5
