Arrival Changes

This comparative writing worksheet supports students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 as they practice expository writing, paragraph organization, comparative reasoning, and historical analysis. By comparing immigration through Ellis Island in the early 1900s with modern-day immigration by air travel, students examine changes in transportation, technology, and procedures while strengthening their ability to explain similarities and differences clearly and logically.

Learning Goals

• Comparative Writing (Grades 4-6) – Write a structured paragraph comparing two historical periods using clear similarities and differences.
• Historical Understanding – Analyze how immigration experiences have changed from Ellis Island to modern airports.
• Civics Awareness – Develop basic understanding of how modern immigration systems function today.
• Critical Thinking – Identify change and continuity over time by examining travel methods, screening processes, and experiences.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary writing, social studies, and civics standards.
• Clear Writing Prompt – Focused question helps students stay on topic and organize ideas effectively.
• Flexible Use – Suitable for independent writing, assessments, homework, or social studies integration.
• Supports Skill Development – Encourages paragraph structure, comparison language, and explanatory detail.

This printable worksheet helps students strengthen comparative writing, historical reasoning, and critical thinking while exploring how immigration experiences have evolved over time. By connecting past and present, learners practice organizing ideas, explaining differences, and recognizing historical continuity. It’s a simple, no-prep resource that works well in both classroom instruction and homeschool learning.

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