Grade 5 Students Change Up a “Presidential” Westmark Tradition

Grade 5 Students Change Up a “Presidential” Westmark Tradition
Grade 5 Students Change Up a “Presidential” Westmark Tradition
Westmark Staff

This week, in keeping with a years-long tradition at Westmark, fifth-grade students presented their reports on United States Presidents. What differed this year was the format: instead of speaking from a podium to just their peers, the “Commanders-in-Chief” role-played the part in a wax museum–inspired format, with families and friends in attendance. 

Drawing from knowledge and skills developed in Social Studies, Language Arts, and Reading classes, the annual project is to research a randomly assigned “POTUS” over several weeks, then write and recite a five-paragraph report on the person’s life and times as Chief Executive of the Nation. Read the recap below for more!

Say hello to (from left to right) James Madison, James Monroe, James Polk, Theodore Roosevelt, and Jimmy Carter (who is technically also a James!).

 

Students enjoyed dressing the part. In some cases, they wore clothing representing the time period in which their President lived.

 

For the most part, the “Presidents” stayed in character, though hugs and high-fives for parents were permitted! They sat or stood still like wax figures until visitors pressed a red button at their stations to bring them to life.

 

Families, faculty and staff members, and fourth graders were delighted to hear the students' reports, which covered their subjects' early years, presidency, life after the White House, fun facts, and/or important aspects of their public service and lasting legacy.

 

Visitors were encouraged to write feedback and express their congratulations to the “Presidents.” Many of them commented on how much they had learned during the informative morning.

 

Hail to the Chiefs!