For the seventh year in a row, Columbia Elementary School students in Angela Johnson’s home room brought famous African-Americans to life last week.
“They are very proud of it,” Johnson, a fifth-grade teacher, said. “Students who are normally not talkers become vocal. … You can see the growth. It gives them another avenue to strengthen their minds. It is a way to help improve achievement and test scores.”
Johnson said 23 students took part in the Black History Month program in the CES gym. Visitors could walk from station to station to hear each student, who was dressed in costume, tell about their historical figure.
“They’ve taken about three weeks to research famous African-American personalities and little-known African-American personalities,” she said. “We have several inventors, several scientists, educators, musicians, entertainers, athletes, and we always make it a point to give a special tribute to Walter Payton, since he is from our own Columbia.”
The museum also included an African exhibit where they learned about music and its impact on society. Teachers donated several authentic African artifacts, and they gave a history of the slave trade and the role of cotton in the South.
“They get an opportunity to feel cotton and see actual cotton plants. A Mississippi child should know how cotton feels, but nowadays, a lot of children don’t,” Johnson said.
The students researched their topics in the school library. Johnson said they’re thankful it has a huge collection of African-American books and history.
Students check out books, fill out a questionnaire about their person and then start moving into character to take on the role.
“When you move from person to person, instead of saying he or she, they say I. It becomes very personal for them,” Johnson said. “For each student, it leaves a lasting impression.”
Parents work with the students to develop the presentations and often learn something themselves, like that Harriet Tubman was married twice or that Sarah Boone invented the ironing board.
“It’s pride and self-motivation,” Johnson said. “For many, it was out of their comfort zone. This exercise develops lifelong learning skills and a love of history and art.”
Pictured Above: Students presenting the Black History Museum included, front row from left, Braden Debate, Kelsie Dillon, Adrieyana Fortenberry, Case Ross and D’Lia Cummings. Second row, teacher Angela Johnson, Bianca Garcia, Ariyah May, Hayden Barber, Ziporia Simmons-Fortenberry, Da’Lynn Cook, Jordin Ratliff, Tamara Barnes, Alajah Buckley and Cortez Robinson. Thrid row, Jayden Arnold, Cailynn Hollaway, Cameron Watts, Alexis Fontenette and Cameron Lowe. | Photo by Mark Rogers
