Columbia Elementary hosted “Christmas on the Frontier" on Dec. 16, an event that drew more than 300 attendees and involved students from third, fourth and fifth grades.
Christmas on the Frontier was a program that culminated in a project-based learning unit and involved all 387 students and every teacher at the school. The students not only learned about early American history throughout the semester, but this interdisciplinary unit integrated arts, ELA, music, dance, reading and culinary arts. Students from the X-Stream after-school program and third through fifth-grade challenge classes, along with the CES PTO and the South Mississippi Regional Library, worked together to make this multifaceted evening a success. 
"We are focusing on our students growing and learning in innovative and more experiential ways than sitting down with textbooks. Instead we want the text books to come to life and this event did just that," Columbia Elementary School Principal Jay Rayborn said. "Who would have ever guessed we could have a Hall of Presidents, Paul Revere riding on the playground, and the Rockettes all on our campus in one night?" 
History came to life during the immersive event that was packed with creativity, discovery and fun, as students showcased how Christmas and daily life were celebrated in early America.
The evening kicked off with a wagon train parade and an engaging reenactment of the Boston Tea Party, while interactive stations and artistic displays gave everyone a glimpse into the past. Families and friends were treated to a thrilling performance of the "Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" — right on the playground.
Exploration didn’t stop there. The halls of CES were transformed into a historical wonderland, featuring the Hall of Presidents, a frontier town and even the White House. To top it all off, the cafeteria became Radio City Music Hall, where the Wildcat Rockettes and the CES Choir mixed history with pop music for an unforgettable show.
The students and teachers spent many hours in the classroom learning and preparing for the event. 
"Each grade level and subject area coordinated together to teach social studies in a historical context as a new emphasis on project-based learning and art integration," said Danielle Whittington, CES literacy and project-based learning instructor.
It was an inspiring night that celebrated the past while igniting excitement for the future.
