School ends Black History Month with Gallery Walk

Imagine one room where the likenesses of professional boxer and activist Muhammad Ali, poet laureate Amanda Gorman and Grammy award-winning performer Beyoncé all can share the same space.

That is precisely what happened the morning of Feb. 28 as students from Hawthorne Elementary School closed out Black History Month with a Gallery Walk for families and community members showcasing projects celebrating notable Black Americans.

Learning to life

Students brought learning to life in various ways, from dioramas to clay figures, and a creative project by third-grade students using pop bottles and Styrofoam balls.

“The bottle buddies were a great project because it blends English language arts, social studies and art into one project that our students really took ownership of in their designs,” said third-grade teacher Matt Davis. “It was impressive to see students look at real photos and decide how they would accurately display facial features, hair and clothes.”

Davis said the project was the highlight of the month.

Still, students were exposed to Black history in all content areas, including math and science, allowing them to learn about notable figures who had achievements in many areas.

Isani Shelton studied Nicholas Johnson, who, in May 2020, became the first Black valedictorian at Princeton University.

Isani said she was surprised to learn a first happened just a few years ago.

“He only had As, so that means he was the top person in his class,” she said.

Dynasti Wallace turned to singer-songwriter, actress and talk show host Jennifer Hudson to inspire her collage project.

“She’s talented and inspires me,” said the fourthgrade student. “I really want to be a singer when I grow up.”

Ward 2 Councilwoman Victoria Kempton attended the Gallery Walk along with community activist Charlesetta Brown.

Brown was among Main Street Lorain’s “Black on Broadway” honorees, which celebrated Lorain natives making history in the community and world.

She founded the Ward 2 Neighborhood Block Watch program and is committed to growing a safe, sustainable neighborhood.

Brown said she and her mother both previously worked at Hawthorne, and her children and grandchildren once attended the school, giving her an affinity for the students and school.

She expressed to the students a message of kindness.

“We are all neighbors to each other, and you have to learn how to take care of your neighbors,” Brown said.

Kempton encouraged students to explore history beyond February.

“Black history is not just one month. Black history is every day,” she said.

COURTESY Third-grade students Elaina Bonnett, Sanai Davis, Alana McCoy and Isani Shelton with their bottle buddies of Katherine Johnson, Opal Tomeit, Thurgood Marshall and Nicholas Johnson, respectively.

COURTESY Fourth-grade student Dynasti Wallace turned to singersongwriter, actress and talk show host Jennifer Hudson to inspire her collage project.

COURTESY Third-grade student Xavier Berens shows off his bottle buddy of Rosalind Brewer, who is one of only two Black female CEOs of Fortune 500companies.