Through a book

called "Immigration Kids," students learned what life was like

for the children of the early immigrants. While parents struggled to hang

on to old country traditions, their children were Americanized quickly

and started adopting customs of the new world. The students learned that

the favorite sport among immigrant children was baseball because it represented

America.

For the past

four years, it has become a tradition at Burch to host an immigration

day at the end of the social studies unit. Students transform the cafeteria

to resemble New York City in 1898 with buildings they draw and paint.

Dressed in traditional clothing from the country they represent, students

share different ethnic foods, customs, and items that are characteristic

of one of the various countries from which the early immigrants migrated.

"I thought

it was really cool to learn that my favorite food came from Greece,"

said Emma Piggins, who had plenty of her favorite steak, pita bread and

feta cheese, to share with visitors who stopped by her table.

Logan House,

who represented Austria, said the one thing that amazed him the most was

the number of famous people who were from the country.

"I learned

that Arnold Schwartzenegger and Sigmund Freud were both born in Austria,"

said House. "I think that's pretty neat."

This year's

Immigration Day featured two new attractions, an Armenian bathhouse and

organ grinder. Students from other grade levels at the school had the

opportunity to tour the different ethnic neighborhoods represented in

the cafeteria.

"These

kids really look forward to when they become fifth-graders and get to

do this project," said Byrd. "This is just a fun way to end

the unit on immigration."