“I need to see a passport right now; I need to see a passport," said 3rd grade teacher Candy Vampola.
Recently, Mrs. Vampola went from being a teacher, to an Immigration Service Officer circa the 1920s.
The third grade Trumble Park Elementary School teacher brought her lesson on immigration to life.
“If they are actually experiencing the learning, it hits home more and they understand it more,” said Vampola.
During their social studies unit, the kids researched their family's origin and based off the results, they were put into a social class and given a passport. Then it was time to board a boat to Ellis Island.
“The first class students had the comfort. They had the comfortable chairs and they got drinks and snacks and second class got a little of that pampering, but the steerage found out what it was really like,” said Vampola.
Once the students arrived at Ellis Island, they went to five different rooms, including a medical and interview room. They even had to take a Citizenship test.
For many students, the experience was eye-opening.
“Well I just got deported which was not fun,” said third grader Nathan Moss.
Moss quickly figured out the hardships of a third class citizen trying to come to the United States.
“Then a bunch of second and first class citizens just passed through me in line and had to fill-up the space which made it a 20-minute wait,” said Moss.
Moss says his wait was frustrating, but he can’t imagine what it was really like.
Even though third grader Kelsey Morrison was a first class citizen, she empathized with those trying to start a new life in America.
“I felt happy because I didn't have to wait or anything, but I felt kind of guilty because I kind of felt sorry for the other people,” said Morrison.
The teachers say it is a social studies lesson the kids won’t forget.
