Language arts novels for teaching the immigrant experience: Starfisher, Children of the River, Slave Dancer, A Boat to Nowhere, Wildflower Girl, Silver Days, Land of Hope.
Social Studies: Simulation of Ellis Island, recreate the experience and have your students come to America. There are many excellent rescouces you can get to set up the different stations. We are planning a little surprise, there will be special rules that the students won't know. Ex: if they put their hands in their pockets they get in trouble, also if they rub or blow their noses, they are sent directly to the medical station and rejected immediately. You can have lots of fun with this one.
Math: Student will practice converting various currencies into U.S. dollars. Students will also be creating spreadsheets and graphs on the computer to illustrate populations,distances..etc.
Science: Students study the diseases and blights which forced people to leave their countries. (related ideas in meterology and migration.)
Music and Art: limitless connections here!!