Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1081161
Last year, the project received grant money from CTA's Institute for Teach- ing, which has been a longtime leader in rewarding innovative educators. Classrooms at the fictitious "Apple Val- ley School" are modeled after a one-room schoolhouse, and teachers incorporate hands-on projects with state standards. Each student assumes a new identity, becoming a child from the past, with a new name, age and persona. Students have other "family members" in the class- room and work cooperatively with them as a team throughout the two-week event. e older the child, the more responsibil- ities he or she has. e family groups include: • Fa r m e r 's c h i l d re n , w h o a t t i m e s m ay h av e t o m i s s s c h o o l t o h e l p with the crops. The Origin of Everyday Sayings In Dena Boer Elementary School's "Wagons Ho — Pioneer Days and the West We Go!" project, youngsters learn how to sew a button and hold a hammer, and they learn the real meaning of everyday sayings. "Waste not, want not," for example, has taken on new m e a n i n g f o r s t u d e n t A n a Villavazo, who understands that pioneers needed everything at their disposal for survival, while people today think nothing of throwing away excess food. Another saying, "throwing the baby out with the bath water," refers to the fact that the entire family used the same tub of water for a bath every week or so, and the baby was always bathed last. The water was so dark by then it could be difficult to see the baby. The expression "It's raining cats and dogs" refers to a time when houses were made of mud, and cats and dogs stayed up on the thatched roofs. When it rained extremely hard, the cats and dogs fell through. Above: Adamariz Betancourt, Jayne Lopez and Dylan Duran play pick-up-sticks. Dylan wears a placard describing the character he is role-playing. Left: Students take their partner by the hand for a square dance. " Students learn that freed slaves and Native Americans were extremely mistreated and not treated equally. We have important discussions about the social injustice of the era." — Lori Hall, Salida Teachers Association • Ne w ly fre ed sl av e s , w h o l a ck th e staples and other supplies schoolchil- dren bring with them. • T h e st o re k e e p e r 's c h i l d re n , w h o always have abundant supplies. • T h e A l l e n b o y s f r o m t h e r e v e r - end's family : Matthew, Mark, Luke and Jo hn . • Other groups of siblings. e teachers also take on new identi- ties. ey are single, since female teachers were not allowed to marry in the 1800s. Many had to live with the families of stu- dents, since they were not supposed to live independently. Educating students about the political realities of the past is incorpo- rated into the unit. Students learn 47 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 019