Davenport Ridge School in Stamford turned into Ellis Island Friday, Feb. 17 as the third-graders pretended to immigrate to the United States.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kim Kempton

After taking their oath of citizenship, students celebrated with apple pie.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kim Kempton

Principal Michael Pisseri was elated to see the third graders show off their knowledge and creativity during the immigration celebration.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kim Kempton

STAMFORD, Conn. — Third-grade students at Davenport Ridge Elementary School went back in time to the late 19th and early 20th centuries to celebrate the completion of an immigration unit in their social studies classes.

Most of the students dressed up to match the time period and brought belongings that their ancestors would have had with them when they came to the United States, such as pictures, jewelry, additional clothing or toys, said an email from Davenport Ridge PTO Co-President Kim Kempton. They also boarded a mock boat and arrived in front of a Statue of Liberty model, the email said.

Once the students “arrived” in the United States, they were taken to four different rooms with their personal belongings and handmade passports to complete the citizenship process. The rooms were an interview room, information room, medical room and baggage room. The students then got to celebrate with apple pie after taking the oath of citizenship, the email said.

“We have 17 different languages being spoken in our school, and today’s exercise gave our students the opportunity to learn what some of their classmates, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents experienced to get here,” said Kempton, who also is a third-grade parent.

“When students have opportunities to collaborate with one another outside of the traditional classroom setting in terms of application, meaningful and real world learning occurs which can be quite powerful,” Davenport Ridge Principal Michael Pisseri, was quoted as saying in the email.