Delaware News: Olentangy students bring American Revolution to life
Clad in a white button-down shirt, black vest and colonial tri-corner hat, Arrowhead Elementary School fourth-grader Maddie Garner staked out a spot in the school library last week to deliver a warning to passersby.
"The British are coming!" Maddie told visiting guests and parents.
The 9-year-old was referring to the British army, of course, which was marching onward from Boston to Lexington to stage an attack and arrest American revolutionaries.
Maddie herself had assumed the role of Paul Revere, the Revolutionary War hero whose famed "midnight ride" warned colonists of danger in the nick of time.
In all, 15 students brought history to life Thursday, March 17 with their interactive Revolutionary War Museum, dressing in costume and taking on the role of American icons such as Revere, John Adams and Deborah Sampson.
The project was part of the SOAR program for gifted students.
Each student assumed the role of one historical figure and prepared a presentation on an important Revolutionary War event, such as the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Trenton or the midnight ride.
As parents and visitors approached, the students launched into character to tell visitors what role they played in the struggle for American independence.
The interactive learning project breathes life into a mundane history lesson, said Arrowhead teacher Carol Strip Whitney.
"It offers them something more than just words on a page," she said. "It adds excitement to the learning and makes history come alive."
Fifth-grader Daniel Barstow, 11, spent weeks researching, writing and piecing together his costume. White baseball pants, long tube socks and a brown vest helped Daniel look the part as John Adams, the second president of the United States.
"I like that we get to dress up like the person and try to become him," Daniel said. "It's a lot of fun and it helps us explain who they were."
Fourth-grader Lucy Dunlop, 10, played the role of Deborah Sampson, who became one of the few women to secretly serve alongside men in the war effort by disguising herself as a man. Sampson's life shows that you should always follow your heart, Lucy said.
"She never let anyone crush her dreams," she said. "If someone says you can't do it, then you just don't listen to them."
In addition to their reports, students crafted small items, including miniature copies of the Declaration of Independence, to sell to parents for small donations. Proceeds went to Canine Companions for Independence, a Columbus group that trains dogs to assist disabled individuals.
The student-driven project encouraged them to take charge of their learning, said fourth-grade teacher Alison Spitzer.
"There's a purpose behind their work, because they got to research a topic of their choosing," she said. "It gives them a good outlook on what they'll face when they get to middle school and high school."
Hands-on learning opportunities such as this one provide the challenge and stimulation that Olentangy's gifted students need, Whitney said.
"They remember these opportunities where they actually get to use the information they researched," she said. "In this case, writing a report isn't the issue. The issue is the internalization of the learning process: gathering information, answering questions and always asking, 'What else can I learn?'"
