Pine Forest Elementary ALPHA hosts social event of the year

Pine Forest Elementary hosted several dignified guests on Monday, October 29, 2012. Several politicians, scientists, artists, musicians, and other noteworthy people were in attendance. Some of those in attendance were: John F. Kennedy, Amelia Earhart, Thomas Jefferson, Claude Monet, Helen Keller, Abraham Lincoln, Jane Goodall, Albert Einstein, and many more.

This annual event, Night of the Notables, is the Common Core research based project of PFE third through fifth grade gifted and talented students. Students researched the lives of notables that they found interesting. They had a choice of their research topic. When students have choices in what they study, they are more motivated to dig into the topic. Students created an original work on their notable, using research to write a song. Students presented their singing reports to the class. Approaching research and presentation in new and original ways encourages students to be more creative and delve deeper into the lives of their notable. This type of research tends to help students realize that their notable person was very human, had a family, had adventures and interests, made mistakes, and achieved (many times against great odds). Seeing past the myths and legends, students make the connection that they have the opportunity to grow up and make notable contributions to the world.

Article and photos provided by Deborah Jones, M.Ed.