4th Graders Present a Celebration of the Fifty States - 4/13/07
One afternoon this past March, a whole passel of strange and wonderful characters appeared on campus as members of Hammond's fourth grade class donned an array of colorful costumes and alternate personalities. To some, this may have looked like a sort of Halloween "Spring-training" but for those involved, such a display could be none other than the Lower School's annual Celebration of the Fifty States.
Each year, Hammond fourth grade students spend the better portion of their time researching one of the fifty United States of America. Finished projects include fully-developed, written research pieces about the history, land and climate, natural resources, and people of a selected state. Aside from the students' written reports which join a display of state symbols and places of interest, every student is required to speak publicly, with confidence (and without notes) on something of importance about her/his state. Additionally, this speaking part includes a visual representation, as creative as possible, associated with the state.
Spoken parts are incorporated into a full production, complete with costumes, staging, musical numbers and group choreography by fourth grade teachers Barbra Dreesen, Harriet Kneece, Kristine Teeter and Elma Williams as well as Music teacher Cherie Herring, Art teacher Jim Lalumondier, Computer teacher Maria Swygert and Lower School Headmaster Bob Davis.
For those who were unable to attend or would just like a little recap, excerpts and photos from this year's production are below.
"I am the Cherry Queen from the state of Michigan. The cherry queen is elected in Traverse, Michigan at the National Cherry Festival...As your Cherry Queen, it is my duty to inform you that cherry products may relieve the pain of arthritis and gout. Cherries may even prevent heart disease. So eat your cherries every day!"
- Simmons deHoll as The Cherry Queen - Michigan
" 'That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.' Born August 5, 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio, I am Neil Armstrong. I was an astronaut. In 1969, I became the first man to walk on the moon. In 1991, I was inducted into the Aerospace Walk of Honor."
- Kelvin Obioha as Neil Armstrong - Ohio
"From the state of Wyoming, I am Martha Canary, better known as Calamity Jane. My Ma and Pa died just a year apart and being the oldest of six children, I made the decision to move the family to Wyoming. I was a frontierswoman who could work as hard as a man. I chewed tobacco, wore men's clothing and always had my gun with me. I even toured with the Buffao Bill Wildwest Show."
- Brooks Babson as Calamity Jane - Wyoming
"Dont' say cheese...say cheesecake. Representing the state of New York, I am New York Cheesecake. New York-style cheesecake was made famous by a restaurant named Juniors Deli. This restaurant, located at 386 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, is nationally known for its cheesecake...So don't worry about the calories, just dig in to the World's most fabulous cheesecake."
- Sutton Satcher as New York Cheesecake - New York
