8th Grade Humanities

In 8th grade Humanities class, we are doing an interdisciplinary study of immigration and immigrant experiences in the US. We just finished reading American Born Chinese, a graphic novel by Gene Yang that explores themes of assimilation, identity and belonging. Accompanying our reading we have been exploring history relating to Chinese immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries. This exploration led us to learn more about Angel Island, the first stop for immigrants coming to the US from Asia and Oceana. 

 During the early 1900s, thousands of immigrants passed through Angel Island in San Francisco Bay. In comparison to Ellis Island, where people were held for a few hours, thousands of folks were detained for weeks and months at Angel Island while they were “processed.” Many of them carved poems into the wooden walls of the detention center, expressing their hopes, fears, frustrations, and dreams. These poems are intense and moving pieces of history. 

After reading through some of the poems, students selected one poem and brought it to life through art, handwriting, and reflection. They copied the poem carefully, created an artistic interpretation and then wrote an artist’s note reflecting on their choices. It was incredible to connect with these voices from history!