Interdisciplinary studies make for powerful learning experiences. This was demonstrated before the public on Friday, March 3, 2017, at Southside Grade School, 100 Academic Drive, Morrison, IL. Eighty-eight third graders spread throughout the four classrooms, hallways, lobby, and library, creating a “Wax Museum” that came to life at the tapping of a green button on the floor. There was high enthusiasm as visitors traveled through time to hear the children recite. This was a day that will be remembered by the students for years.
For the “last four or five years,” according to educator Susan Keime, she and Jennifer Schipper, Chelsea Stuart, and Heather Waninger included a biography book report unit. This year they added a third dimension: costumed, first-person, memorized presentations of the book report material. The children worked over a month to prepare by
- choosing a public figure to research
- reading an autobiography or a biography
- preparing a book report/script that introduced the character
- designing an appropriate costume
- creating a factual poster which included 4-5 “artifacts” about the person
- sharing the book report.
First, each third grader performed before his or her class. Then, all of them performed before the Southside fourth and fifth graders, as a dress rehearsal. Meet seven of the notable persons.
Annabelle Blevins portrayed Underground Railroad Conductor Harriet Tubman.
Jenna Grater portrayed ballerina Maria Tallchief.
Lucy Oetting portrayed Civil Rights proponent Rosa Parks.
Reese Rennie portrayed President Donald Trump.
Elise Vander Bleek portrayed frontiersman Daniel Boone.
Bayleigh Wierenga portrayed Diana, Princess of Wales.
Ivan Zhang portrayed pharaoh King Tutankhamun.
