It isn’t often you get the chance to see Elvis Presley, David Crockett, Genghis Khan and George Lucas under the same roof.
But West Side Elementary made it possible Wednesday afternoon with their annual “Day at the Museum, which was opened to family and friends of students.
Throughout the day, fifth graders from classes taught by West Side teachers Amanda Righter, Lisa Kind and Sara Penley filled up the school’s gym at different stations. Each child prepared for their presentation by reading a biography of their research topic, completing a graphic organizer, conducting and writing a research paper, finishing a poster, making a speech and selecting a costume to wear.
“We’ve been doing this for about three years,” Righter said. “This is an event in conjunction with the library. Ms. (Judy) Fletcher and I, and in the past Ms. Norris, worked together to get students to read, to do research and to enjoy history. They each got a chance to pick who they wanted to research and dress as for today.”
Having the ability to see children take a load off after testing is always important, according to West Side Principal John Wright. After a busy testing cycle, the principal credited the work of students and teachers to prepare for the endeavor.
“This is a great thing to do, especially after TCAPs,” Wright said. “With Mrs. Righter, her passion is history, so this is a chance for her and other teachers to help bring this alive for the kids. This is something the students will never forget. Not only do they learn about their historic figure, but they also learn from their other students in class about the characters they’re portraying. This is a phenomenal time for the students.”