Walking in their shoes
SUGARCREEK TWP, Armstrong County — While having Donald Trump, Helen Keller, Hines Ward and Ludwig van Beethoven in the same room may seem like an all-star episode of “The Apprentice,” it's actually an educational tool at Sugarcreek Elementary School.
Sixth-grade students at the school on Thursday brought history to life as they gave presentations in costume for the school's biography day.
Thursday marked the 14th year of the event coordinated by sixth grade teachers Dave McElroy and Tracy Ball.
“We were doing some things as far as reading biographies in class about famous people, and this is one of those things where I tried to extend the research into a culminating activity,” McElroy said.
“When it first started, we went to individual classrooms in the building, so we (eventually) came up with a full day where the students could come to us.”
Students' topics included both the heroes of school-aged children and the heroes of history.
German composer Beethoven, Steelers wide receiver Ward, “Twilight” series author Stephanie Meyer and “Harry Potter” author J.K Rowling all were represented.
“We still have our Abraham Lincolns and Thomas Jeffersons, classical figures,” McElroy said.
Helen Keller, Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho and Bessie Coleman, the first African-American female pilot, also were embodied by students.
One young man portrayed real estate mogul Trump, prompting McElroy to remark, “That was an interesting one. The student has better hair than (Trump) does, though.”
Former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula was represented, too.
“(The student) was a football fan and wanted to do a famous football coach. He didn't relate to Vince Lombardi, who I consider old. He considered Shula old,” McElroy said.
Students use a mix of Web sites to discover their topics, as well as pertinent figures from their social studies curriculum, though they are encouraged to study people relating to their own interests.
“It's every exciting. One of the things you look forward to is seeing them come into your homeroom to see what they've done. I think it's exciting for the other students, as well,” McElroy said.
“Over the years, we've been able to include every kid in our sixth grade classes here. That's something we're proud of. ”
One such student is an autistic young man enrolled in the school's special services program, who did his presentation as Ole K. Christiansen, the inventor of LEGOs.
“The fact that the whole school is involved, it helps spawn interest in the children who aren't yet in sixth grade,” McElroy said.
