Merced students take up study of immigration history

Students at Fremont Elementary School in Merced took a look this week at the history of immigration in the United States.

The history project allowed fifth-graders to experience what life was like for millions of immigrants who arrived in the United States through the Port of New York at Ellis Island from 1892 to 1924, school officials said in a news release.

“The students first learned about the history of Ellis Island and were then assigned the names of individual immigrants who made the journey by sea from different countries in pursuit of better opportunities in the United States,” officials said in the statement.

Students researched and then assumed those identities for the day; some wore costumes fitting the time period.

They made their way through a number of processing stations, answering several questions and meeting various requirements to avoid deportation. In the end, the students were able to take a “loyalty oath” and begin their new lives in America.

Principal Dawn Walker credited teacher Ryan Cromar, the fifth-grade teaching team and parent volunteers for making the innovative project possible. She says it helped the students learn about history and gain a better understanding of our diverse country.

This story was originally published June 3, 2016 at 3:39 PM with the headline "Merced students take up study of immigration history."