Staff writer
Third grade students at Goessel Elementary School became “famous” Friday, at least for the day. Each student researched a famous person, then prepared an information board, dressed as their subject, and presented their information to students from other classes, family members, and friends.
“The students worked on this project for three weeks,” teacher Dale Wiens said. “We use a lot of different skills from learning how to find information, talking to people, Microsoft Office skills and technology, to presentation skills.”
Wiens has used the “famous” approach to teaching about historical figures for 11 years already, but said each year there is a surprise or two in store for visitors to the event.
“We start with choices from people we have books on in our library,” he said. “But if a student shows a particular interest in a famous figure and can bring in a book for reference we can expand that.”
Some new famous people researched and portrayed by third graders this year included Annie Oakley, Walt Disney, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Neil Armstrong.
Other famous people projects included Amelia Earhart, Daniel Boone, George Washington Carver, Louis Braille, Sacagawea, Davy Crockett, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Thomas Jefferson, among others.
“Most of the students come up with their own costumes but we do have a collection here that they can look through,” he said. “We make sure everyone has something for the big event.”