Mrs. Carla Solomon challenged her junior high classes to try something new this year - National History Day...
National History Day
Mrs. Carla Solomon challenged her junior high classes to try something new this year – National History Day. NHD is a model of multidisciplinary, project-based learning that is focused on a new theme annually. The theme was “Taking a Stand” and asked students to explore people in history who did just that.
St. Mary junior high students who volunteered to participate spent a day downtown at the Cleveland History Center to begin research on their chosen topics with help from the professional staff. They then began to shape projects into one of four formats: research papers, documentaries, exhibits or dramatic performance. Students sharpened skills in research methods, critical thinking and synthesis of information from diverse sources.
After hard work and dedication to their topics, students made their way to the National History Day competition downtown on the campus of Case Western Reserve and the Cleveland History Center on March 4. Mary McCauley, Loreali Gandolf-Glover and Ellie Faber entered into the performance category with “Sophie Scholl and the White Rose- Standing up to Hitler.”
Sarah Boggs and Molly Passow had an exhibit titled “Gandhi’s Walk to Freedom,” while Annie Solomon and Faye Hoey created a documentary on Maximillian Kolbe, “Standing Up to Save Another Man.” Sixth-graders Ty Neat, Jake Schneider, Dylan Brock, Owen Boggs, and Christian Pawar created a film titled “Patriots Standing Up to Injustice,” and Jamie Graham, Caitlyn Ford and Lindsey Schaefer looked into Rosa Parks in “A Walk to Freedom.”
During the competition, students were required to effectively present their findings and interpretations of their topics to a panel of judges. They also answered questions from the judges about the content of their project, as well as their research process.
The Ohio History Day group reported a record 650 students registered for the competition this year. While none of the St. Mary student groups advanced this year, they all enjoyed the challenge and excitement of the event.
A national evaluation of the National History Day program conducted in 2009-2010 revealed that teachers and students who participate in National History Day report stronger reading and research skills, better college and career readiness and an overall increased interest in historical topics. St. Mary School will definitely be back next year.
Celebrating Reading and Dr. Seuss
Mrs. Kara Passow’s kindergartners dressed as their favorite Seuss characters played host to the prekindergarten students during their recent celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Kindergarten students busied themselves running interactive learning Seuss centers for their younger friends and having fun at the same time. Learning stations included Green Egg and Ham tic-tac-toe, stacking apples on top and creating hats for Cat in the Hat. The pre-K students enjoyed spending time with their older friends and acting out some of their favorite Dr. Seuss books.
The kindergartners did their own science experiment as well, working on investigating states of matter. The students took a liquid and mixed it with Jell-O to see the outcome. Students predicted that when the liquid cooled, it would become a solid. They were not only correct, but also got to enjoy the special treat when they were done.
Each March, schools across the country celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday and the legacy he created across the reading curriculum. Better known to most readers as Dr. Seuss, Dr. Theodor Geisel was born over 100 years ago. The NEA marks his birthday with Read Across America, the largest reading event in the United States, by celebrating with read-aloud, read-along, and reading marathon activities.
Early childhood students look forward to wearing crazy socks and hats, dressing as their favorite characters and embracing the zany books that Dr. Seuss gifted to very young readers.
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Group of History Day participants include (l to r) front row: Christian Pawar, Caitlin Ford, Lindsey Schaefer, Riley Ford, Mary McCauley, Loreali Gandolf-Glover; and back row: Jake Schneider, Dylan Brock, Jamie Graham, Annie Solomon, Faye Hoey and Ellie Faber.
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Molly Passow and Sarah Boggs participate in National History Day.
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Kindergartner Emma Payto shows off her class’s Jell-O experiment.
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Cooper Zdedsar, Emma Zulandt and Kaden Kraus put “Apples on Top” during Dr. Seuss activities.
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Abby Zulandt and Amelia Greig work together to make “Cat in the Hat” hats.
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Trenton Dillworth looks on as Max Pitchler builds an apple tower.
