Living Museum teaches history

History came alive in December at Oakhurst Elementary School, as the second-graders performed what they called a "Living Museum," an interactive way to teach themselves and others about Georgia.

With the help of a $1,300 grant from the Decatur Education Foundation, about 60 students from the three social studies classes told about Georgia's physical landscape, the Native American cultures and the state's historical figures.

Each student was given a topic and had to research and write a script about it. In the four days before Christmas break, they read their scripts in a series of performances in front of their parents, fellow students, and others from the community.

Teacher Donna Smith said the purpose was to give students a deeper, more meaningful way to learn about their state's history. "We wanted to make it exciting and relevant for the students," she said.

For example, one room had a giant puzzle of a Georgia map. Individual students represented a region, river or city, and had to describe it.

Other rooms were like stepping back in time. In learning about Georgia's Creek and Cherokee cultures, they worked with music teachers on dances and songs, which they performed. Their weaving projects were on display, and some students were dressed as Native Americans and described how that culture used plants, food and medicine. There was even a model of a Cherokee house.

Tasj-Mari Myers, who came in costume, demonstrated how to make dye out of onions and blueberries. She researched it on the computer and took the materials home to practice. "I liked boiling the stuff," she said.

Students dressed as seven of the state's major historical figures, such as Jackie Robinson, Martin Luther King Jr. and Jimmy Carter, and described their importance to the state. Another student, meantime, served as a "connector," and talked about how that figure's contributions were relevant today.

Joey Manasso, who wore a wig and black robe to portray James Oglethorpe, said he read a booklet to find information. "I learned that he (Oglethorpe) was the founder of Georgia," Joey said. "I learned that he was born in London, England."

The DEF grant was key to the project, going toward such supplies as fabric for costumes, frames, materials for construction of the Native American winter home, foamboard and poster board for the giant map as well as other instructional resources, according to teacher Kira Wilsterman.

"We have never done anything like this before, and it was fabulous," Wilsterman said.

Smith said the students were engaged and enthusiastic, and the project helped to develop their research, writing and public speaking skills.

If this sounds exciting and you missed it, no worries. Smith, Wilsterman, and Debbie Lester, the third teacher involved in the project, all agreed they would do the living museum, with some fine-tuning, in the years ahead.