Antietam students learn by preparing museum "walk of heroes"

Combine American History, art, and drama with fifth graders who think a living history museum is “cool,” and you have a lesson that students will remember for many years.

Pressing for peak performance on the Social Studies Standards of Learning tests, fifth grade teachers at Antietam Elementary School asked students to choose a leader of the American Revolution, A New Nation, or Westward Expansion to research, write a report and narrative from that leader’s point of view, create a life-size “portrait,” and participate in a “museum walk of heroes.”

“The students had to read a biography and prepare a speech telling the class about the person they researched, what their life was like growing up, their contributions, and how they have affected our world today,” said Fifth Grade Teacher Janinne Imon.

The hands-on lesson, which spanned several days’ time, counting some homework hours and many hours exploring the Internet, enlivened the entire school when the American History “gallery” opened on a Friday afternoon for tours by other students and parents.

The fifth graders, “costumed” in their “portraits” of such leaders as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Phyllis Wheatley, Sacagawea, Paul Revere, Thomas Paine, and Meriwether Lewis, gave a speech each time a gallery visitor stopped in front of them, and paused as the visitor walked on, simulating a programmed audio tour. Johanna described the experience as “cool because it was like a museum that had pictures on the wall that were talking.”

Jason learned “different facts about the American Revolutionary War by going to a portrait and asking the portrait to tell about himself.”

C. J. and Zack enjoyed the research aspects of the project. “It was interesting being able to look up a person you might not have known about and learning about their life and their unique qualities,” said C.J. “I did Thomas Jefferson and so did someone else. I learned some facts from the other student that I had not read about Thomas Jefferson,” said Zack.

Kiah said, “It was fun to be able to portray someone who lived during the Revolutionary War and seeing your friends doing the same thing.”

Antietam’s fifth grade teachers who inspired their students with this history lesson are Janinne Imon, Liz Cooper, Arlene McFadden, and Mary Williamson. Thanks to these innovative teachers, an important era in our nation’s history came to life through the words of great leaders, creating a memorable experience for all students at Antietam Elementary School.

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