Third Graders Portray Famous Americans at Annual Book Parade

Barnesville’s Third Grade American Book Parade brings famous Americans from throughout history to life.
Each student selects a notable American to research and then writes a first-person biographical report, highlighting significant events in that person's life. They also create a miniature parade float that helps to illustrate major character traits and symbols of that person’s personal story.
Dressed in character, students parade with their floats down the hallway outside the third-grade classroom and then step up onto a “soapbox” to deliver an original, first-person biographical speech. The class ends the parade with a choral reading of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, “I Have a Dream Speech” and the folk song, “Follow the Drinking Gourd.”
This year’s Book Parade featured the following historical figures: Amelia Earhart, Walt Disney, Philo Farnesworth, Ella Fitzgerald, Milton Hershey, Hellen Keller, and Maria Tallchief.
“It is always such a thrill to see the kids transform into the people they’ve been studying. They don’t just read about history, they live it,” said Third Grade Teacher Mrs. Gekas. “It was particularly exciting for me this year to have a student introduce me to the first prima ballerina of the New York City Ballet. She was a Native American.”
This signature curriculum event is a treasured tradition and rite of passage at Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences. It is also one of many opportunities Barnesville students have to gain confidence in public speaking.

Photos can be viewed on Facebook.

Barnesville School of Arts & Sciencesis an independent private school in Montgomery County, Maryland offering innovative preschool through 8th grade programs. Cross-curricular teaching encourages students to explore how subjects relate to one another, helping them to make connections that spark inquiry and deepen understanding. Barnesville's visual arts program is an integral part of the School’s academic curriculum. Our art teacher works closely with other teachers to integrate art into social studies, science, and even math curriculums.