Flickinger Elementary students have declared their independence!
Not from their school, but rather as part of a unique simulation of the debates surrounding the signing of Declaration of Independence.
Students from Angelo Harwood’s fifth-grade class recreated the historical event in their school gym for a year-summary of American history studies.
Each student selected a signer and portrayed the person in the often contentious debate that was the prelude to the signing. The discussion followed the event down to every detail, with colonial dress, candles and even a feather pen.
Harwood said the goal of the program was not only to teach the students about the issues behind the document and the roles of the signers, but also to bring to life the personalities of the historical figures.
“I always tell the actors that when you get to a point that you know the person you are playing so well that you begin to interject pieces into the script, you are ready,” Harwood said.
Student Aaron Guitar – AKA Thomas Nelson, governor of Virginia – said that he learned more about more about the document and its signers through the simulation.
“It was a great learning experience,” Guitar said.
