Is your second grader doing Famous Americans?

[oxfordcircus]

Or maybe they just did it in the last few weeks? We're doing it in Mississippi this week and I just read that Alabama schools have done it recently. I'm just curious how widespread our cirriculum is.

So far the roll call is:

Mississippi
Alabama

 

[kami2199]

Or maybe they just did it in the last few weeks? We're doing it in Mississippi this week and I just read that Alabama schools have done it recently. I'm just curious how widespread our cirriculum is.

So far the roll call is:

Mississippi
Alabama

A friend of my dd just had to write a paper on a president. My dd didn't as she is in a different class though. This is in IL - second grade as well.

 

[laurie31]

laurie31 Omgosh!! Yes!!

I BEGGED dd to be Pocohontas instead...we have THREE costumes left over from Thanksgiving plays where they were Native Americans, but she wouldn't wear one of those because she said Pocohontas didn't dress like that, she wore a dress with only one sleeve! I tried to explain that THAT was the Disney Pocohontas, but there was a REAL Pocohontas...who likely didn't dress like the Disney one...but her little 2nd grade mind was all made up! Sigh.

oxfordcircus
Ha Ha! We had a bunch of Sacageweas, Pocahantases and Rosa Parkses too. There was even a pudgy Walt Disney. Funny stuff (best botched line: "I'm So and So Hershey. I'm famous for eating...er, inventing the first candy bar). Speaking of costumes, I learned that that going rate to rent a WIG is $15-$20, not including subsequent lice treatments.

I knew folks in my area were all doing Famous Americans, but I didn't realize other states were too. That looks like material for a new thread!

I moved this from the other thread because it made more sense to reply here

Anyway - wow, I had no idea it was so much to rent a wig!! and LOL LOL about the freudian slip on Hershey!

I think it was cool for the kids to learn that some of these names were REAL people, and dressing in costume and all made it more fun. DD did enjoy learning about Amelia Earhart, despite the last minute costume thing

 

[oxfordcircus]

I moved this from the other thread because it made more sense to reply here

Anyway - wow, I had no idea it was so much to rent a wig!! and LOL LOL about the freudian slip on Hershey!

I think it was cool for the kids to learn that some of these names were REAL people, and dressing in costume and all made it more fun. DD did enjoy learning about Amelia Earhart, despite the last minute costume thing

It was definitely a good learning experience. It actually prompted me to have my first conversation with my 8 year old about race and civil rights. I also got to talk to her about immigration and the definition of "an American" since she was Michelle Kwan. But the whole experience has been a nice survey of famous people and accomplishments/advances in humanity.

And we were scrambling yesterday to finish the project with her, even enlisting grandma to print some photos. But our "help" on the project paled in comparison to what other parents did to basically do their projects for them. There was a very very very elaborate Spirit of St. Louis being worn by the little Charles Lindberg. Seriously, the Wright brothers (only one of whom was present) would have been proud.

 

[laurie31]

I also thought it was a great learning experience. DD had a hard time understanding why it was a big deal that Amelia Earhart was a pilot. I had to explain that back then, some people didn't think women could do things as well as men.

Oh, and you can add Indiana to the list! A friend just emailed me a pic of her son dressed as Charles Lindberg! LOL!! (sans Spirit of St. Louis, though!)

 

[PurpleDucky]

The elementary kids last week did at my school