The Inspection Line

This nonfiction reading worksheet supports students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 as they develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, historical understanding, and evidence-based reasoning. By analyzing an informational passage about the Ellis Island inspection process, students explore how immigrants were screened, questioned, and evaluated upon arrival while practicing both multiple-choice and written response skills that emphasize careful reading and inference.

Learning Goals

• Reading Informational Texts (Grades 4-6) – Draw conclusions and identify key details from a nonfiction passage.
• Immigration Process Understanding – Learn how inspections, health checks, and questioning shaped the immigrant experience at Ellis Island.
• Civic Systems Awareness – Understand early government systems related to immigration, public health, and entry into the United States.
• Critical Thinking & Inference – Use evidence from the text to explain challenges, emotions, and outcomes.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary ELA, social studies, and civics standards.
• Mixed Question Formats – Combines multiple-choice and short-answer questions to assess comprehension and reasoning.
• Human-Centered Focus – Highlights perseverance and the emotional experience of immigrants.
• Flexible Use – Ideal for independent practice, assessments, small groups, or immigration history units.

This printable worksheet helps students strengthen reading comprehension, historical reasoning, and empathy by examining the realities of Ellis Island inspections. Through careful analysis of nonfiction text, learners gain insight into both government procedures and the human stories behind immigration. It’s a practical, no-prep resource that works well in both classroom instruction and homeschool learning.

This worksheet is part of our Immigration and Ellis Island collection.