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Tan Team visits Ellis Island
By Lauren S., Tan Team

The wind whipped in the faces of 92 Tan Team students as they rode the ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. On May 9, 2007, Mrs. Sandor and Mrs. Michael, two wonderful Tan Team teachers, organized an amazing trip to the famous landmark.

On the trip, the team went sight seeing off the ferry, explored the grounds of Ellis Island, watched a movie about the history of Ellis Island and immigration, and took a trip to the Statue of Liberty, originally known as Liberty Enlightening the World.

Walking up the statues 156 stairs was hot and sticky. But when the students reached the top of the platform, they looked out into the horizon and saw ocean, ships, and people waving back at the bottom of the statue. No one is allowed to go up to the crown and torch due to safety issues.

The trip was a fun learning experience about the immigration that took place from 1890 to 1910. The kids were able to bond with their fellow team mates and explore the grounds that many immigrants explored not to long ago.

A special thanks goes out to Mrs. Sandor and Mrs. Michael for organizing the trip.

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Ellis Island Fun Facts

The following are fun facts about this historic treasure:

1. New York Harbor was chosen as the location for the Statue of Liberty because it was considered the gateway to America .
2. The tablet at the base of the statue is inscribed with July 4, 1776.
3. The sculptor, Auguste Bartholdi, designed the statue's face in resemblance of his mother and the body of his girlfriend.
4. The statue is green because it's oxidized copper.
5. Metal copper was chosen to build the statue because it was affordable and a light weight.
6. The statue is 121 years old.
7. The original base burned down and it was rebuilt out of brick so that wouldn't happen again.
8. The exterior copper covering of the statue of liberty is 3/32 of an inch thick (less then the thickness of two pennies).
9. The statue is 305'6”.