The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Play connects bicentennial to students
Imagine Ely Stadium built with drinking straws and pipe cleaners.
The structure created by kindergarten student Deon Washington, 6, and his fifth-grade partner Eddie Arnett, 10, served as an activity connected with a travelling display of the 200th anniversary of the founding of Elyria.
“It’s pretty fun and creative,” Eddie said.
The kindergarten class of teacher Michelle Kleinhenz at Franklin Elementary School, 446 11th St. in Elyria, chose photographs of historic structures in the city.
Then the kindergarten students chose the building materials, such as colorful blocks, red plastic drinking cups, Tinker Toys, Dominoes, paper and clay.
And the older students helped using the younger ones’ ideas, Kleinhenz said.
The building projects encouraged the use of science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, she said.
“We’ve been talking about 100 years,” Kleinhenz said. “They just had their 100s day on (Feb. 7). We had a celebration for that. This is an enrichment on our 100s day.” This is a good connection for the students, she said.
“In the future, they are going to be making maps, so they will connect with the historical maps,” Kleinhenz said. “I float around and I guide them, but this is their own.”
Veronica Ward, 5, and Allyssa Hartwick, 11, built an 1868 Elyria City Hall with colorful blocks and Dominoes.
“I came here to read books with the kindergarteners,” Allyssa said, and Miss Neal said I did a great job, so I came back. I think it’s really interesting to learn about the town’s history.
“My favorite thing is how interesting their clothes were and how their buildings looked. We watched a video yesterday. One thing I thought was interesting was one part of the building was an opera house. I thought that was pretty cool.”
At the same table, an 1824 1st Congregational Church arose out of Tinker Toys and blocks through the efforts of Tyson McClain, 5, and Da’liya Williams, 5.
“I’ve been practicing at home,” said their helper Xavian Knowles, 10. “We’re doing this project because we’re dedicating this year to all the buildings and how they dressed and how much the city has changed over the years.
“My favorite thing is the cars they used to drive then. I like them because they’re really old school and I like old school cars. And I like the people that did the Olympics back then. One thing I didn’t like was when Abraham Lincoln got shot.”
The traveling display highlighting the history of Elyria was prepared by the History and Education Committee of the Elyria Bicentennial, according to Bill Bird, executive director of Lorain County Historical Society.
“This particular exhibit was the combined work of staff from (Lorain County Historical Society) and Elyria Public Library (System),” Bird said. “Anne Michael is co-chair of the History and Education Committee and did a ton of work on it. She was assisted by Donna McGuire of our staff and Debbie Kresja and Kathy Runser of the library.”
Kleinhenz said the display impressed the youngsters.
“They were really excited when they got the boards,” she said. “Some people may say that this is play. But this is total learning, and I love it that they have the upper grade students to help them.
“This group (Eddie and Deon) had a really challenging set of things to build a stadium, but they did a great job.”