Mr. Schwartz, director of the Center for American Music at the University of Illinois, and Mr. Stromberg, curator for the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at UI, worked with King fifth grade students to teach the history of the Civil War through music. Schwartz and Stromberg focused on teaching the history and culture of the 1860′s through examining specific Civil War songs such as”Goober Peas,” “The Cumberland Gap,” and “John Brown’s Body.” They also helped the classes write their own song about female spies during the war, entitled, “A Woman’s Revenge.”  The students showcased their work for parents and other King students in a beautiful musical performance on the morning of April 18th, which included a dance from the time period and a performance of a scene from the movie, “Young Mr. Lincoln,” both performed by King students.

The students highlighted their research by creating a living museum in Mr. Mockbee’s fifth grade classroom. The classroom was transformed into centers depicting life in the North and South that students from other classrooms and visitors could visit and were able to actually feel like they had stepped back in time.  King fifth grade students, many dressed in clothes from the Civil War era, were able to impart their knowledge about such areas of study as the roles of women and African-Americans during the Civil War, Civil War foods, slave auctions, the Lincoln family, and the militaries of the North and South. By working on such an in-depth project, King teachers believe that this allowed their students to have a deep understanding of such a crucial time in American history.

We received a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to tie in native Illinois prairie plants and wildlife, but we are going to need more funds to get the whole job done right!  Our Flower Power fundraiser allows you to shop for your own spring and summer bulbs and flowers in a way that supports our project!  Just order from the site!  Your plants will be shipped to you when it’s time for the growing season, and 50% of the profit will be mailed to us!  Thanks in advance for your support!

Here is the link to begin your order:

http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/i/t/347902/T19ZSCXu1bNz

All King Families were invited to share a potluck dish from their country or prepare a traditional family recipe.  Families were able to share a meal with one another while visiting with friends and family while also making new acquaintances.  Our 2^nd grade classes decorated the multipurpose room and shared their project study of countries around the world.

Families traveled from room to room to hear folktales from Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe.  The King School Players performed a folktale for the whole school community in the gym as the Grand Finale to the evening.  Every student left with their own book to enjoy at their home as a thank-you for spending the evening reading with us!

The theme of UN Day was “If the World Were a Village,” taking a page from the book of the same name written by David J. Smith and illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong. Dr. Jennifer Ivory-Tatum, principal, provided brief open remarks and Mrs. Guadalupe Ricconi, interim director of Bilingual and Multicultural programs, served as the event’s host.  Several of King’s classes and cultural groups performed songs and skits, many in both English and the groups’ native language.  A 5th grade class did a research project based on the notion of the “Face of the World,” and presented the audience the “Face of King School.”  The program listing in its entirety is below, along with pictures of the day.

United Nations Day

“If the World Were a Village”

• Opening Remarks – Dr. Jennifer Ivory-Tatum
• Parade of Nations – Mrs. Guadalupe Ricconi
• “If the World Were a Village” – Mrs. Hope Morrison
• “My School” – Arabic class
• “How to Say Hell” – 1st grade ESL
• “My First Day of School,” “My Autumn,” “Moonlight” – Vietnamese class
• “The Shadow King” – Indonesian class
• “King School Bridges to the World” – Mrs. Thompson’s class
• “Boating” – Chinese class
• “Faces of King School and the World” – Mrs. Arazi’s 5th grade ESL class and Mr. Karny
• “The Conjugation of the Rights of All Children” / “La Conjugaison du Droit des Enfants” – French class
• “The Dr. King Song” – King school students, staff and guests