WHIZ KIDS: Drum Seventh-Graders Act The Part On Night Of The Notables

Whiz Kid(s): Drum Seventh-Graders (all were Notables)

Whiz Kid Teachers: Mr. Miller, Mr. Bennett, Ms. Cargill, Ms. Ashley, Mr. Young, Mr. Forrer, Ms. Scott and Mr. Wong

Whiz Kid Accomplishments:  Since it began in 2000, Night of the Notables has been a long-standing tradition at Drum Intermediate. The staff wanted the seventh-grade students to do a project that would involve research, writing a paper and a final presentation. The idea isn't new. Researching notable people for an assignment for social studies helps youth connect history to learning. 

But Drum staff took it a step further by planning a night for the project to be displayed while the students dressed up, with a minute-long speech prepared to share with visitors about their notable.

The concept let students study historical figures, and it prompted them to look for elements and ideas that helped them achieve. Students had to ask themselves, "What did this person do to become notable? How did they do it?what did this person do that might have changed history, or elevated our current lives?"

It's a month-long project that begins by drawing a notable name for each student. The girls are given names of women and boys the names of men. The famous people lived from 1600 AD to present, which covers eight eras in history.

Then it's sessions in the library, as well as on the Internet to locate 100 notecards for preparation to write a paper.  Each student must find two quotes from their figure and plan a speech to give others insight into their person.

On June 9, more than 200 Drum students put on a show as famous historical figures, everyone from Ferdinand Magellan to Ludvig van Beethoven, Cleopatra  to Steven Spielburg, Mother Teresa to  Sally Ride.

As attendees placed a ticket in their collection box the students came alive and greeted them with a short speech. Afterwards visitors could ask questions to learn even more about the notable person.

The night was all about history and events, but the 25-cent tickets helped support the end-0f-year events by the "graduating" seventh-grade class.  One student commented,  "doing this project took along time, but tonite was fun and we earned money for our party."

On a warm evening...in June these students learned that history matters, while small decisions and choices that lead to success can make a mark in the notable books.

Key to Awesomeness:  Community, family and friends took a stroll through the ages to learn about history from the Drum seventh-grade students. They had to research some very famous people like Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan,Thomas Edison....but some students were given the task to locate and learn about less-familiar figures like Janet Reno, Emily Dickinson and Vladimir Zworykin.

From athletes, to authors, explorers, to scientists, politicans or people who founded America like George Washington - the night provided a walk through history.

Public speaking is one of the top fears for most adults, but these students were practiced and poised as they shared about their notable. Each student was prepared with a display board full of photos, quotes and a poem about their person.  This gave visitors an idea of the background and historical importance of their notable. 

Well done, students and staff, on an incredible evening of historical significance. 

Know any teams, students, groups doing great things?  Send nominations to Marion Lybbert at mmlybbert@aol.com.