History Revisited
by Linda Jaeger
The most unlikely meeting of two historical figures took place at Upper Bucks just a few weeks ago. The third grade history projects were being presented when two figures from America’s past met: Benjamin Franklin- presented by Elijah Martinez, met Pocahontas- presented by Chloe Parise. It was quite a meeting! The students in third grade are studying many different American heroes so their unimaginable union became a reality.
During the year they must choose a hero and complete projects that require them to do some research, write a report and make a presentation about that person. On January 12th the class began presenting their projects. Some students read newspaper articles and presented posters with several different pictures about the life of their
particular hero. Time lines of certain heroes’ lives were also presented. Several students dressed like their hero and explained their outfits. It was during one of these presentations that Pocahontas and Benjamin Franklin shared the stage.
The students did a great job researching and presenting the facts in very interesting ways. Benjamin Franklin’s outfit was well thought out and even “dirty.” Elijah explained that the outfit was “dirty” because Benjamin Franklin traveled for a long time before he arrived in the Philadelphia area and certainly must have been filthy. Chloe presented Pocahontas as the favorite Indian of the colonists. She had saved John Smith’s life, married John Rolfe and died at a very young age on her way back to America from England. All the young scholars in Mrs. Jaeger’s class did an outstanding job reliving the past. There are many newspaper articles and posters that were extremely well done. Come see them on display in the Liberty building and relive a “blast from the past!”