Lowell's Immigration Stories

On March 21st, Team Gibbas fourth graders visited the Tsongas Industrial History Center in Lowell, Massachusetts as part of our fourth grade study of immigration.  While there students were able to tour the weaving room and saw some of the looms in operation.

To understand a bit about what it was like for immigrants coming to the United States from a different country, students were given a passport which told the story of a real person that immigrated to Lowell.

Then students pretended to be that immigrant meeting an immigration officer.  Students had to say hello in their native language, and state their name and their country of origin.

Students then got together with other "immigrants" from their home country and looked at real artifacts of items that people brought from their home country when relocating to America.

Later students were able to experience what it was like to be part of a town meeting in the late 1800's when the town of Lowell was trying to decide whether or not citizens should pay to have a school built for Irish immigrants.  Students took on different roles in the town meeting, some acting as citizens, and others as town officers.  Citizens dressed in period costumes and stated their opinion about whether or not the tax payers should pay for the school based on the information on their role card.  Many girls were shocked to find out that their opinions and votes didn't count because women didn't have the right to vote!  

Students learned a lot and had fun on this field trip!