Cedar Mountain students explore heritage

VERNON — After ‘packing up’ their Social Studies unit on Immigration, the third-grade students of Cedar Mountain Primary School set their sights on exploring their own, unique heritages with a celebration activity entitled, "Heritage Day." On Friday, April 17, the elementary school “immigrants” re-enacted the proverbial Ellis Island experience with the help of teachers and parent volunteers.

After tracing back to their ancestral roots and uncovering genealogical history with a family tree poster, each student dressed up in costumed attire that was representative of their family’s country of origin.

The young “immigrants,” eager to begin their quest of exploration, then participated in an Ellis Island simulation activity that incorporated various stages of the immigration process. The multiple stations: Baggage Room, Physical Exam, Legal Interview and Currency Exchange, served as checkpoints for the incoming class of immigrants; each of which was necessary to complete, prior to entry into America: the land of opportunity — and ice cream!

By taking the lesson out of the classroom and placing it into action, the third-grade students of Cedar Mountain Primary School were able to find a deeper connection to their heritage and to their ancestry, while simultaneously developing a greater understanding of their classmates’ shared history.