MLES 4th graders promote the states they researched
Exhibits to see, lots to learn, people watching to do – and all kinds of food, many even served “on-a-stick” of course. All of that is what makes a State Fair great.
Mountain Lake Public Elementary School (MLES) fourth-grade students promoted their own version with a “State(s) Fair” on Thursday afternoon, April 13, with state displays scattered throughout the elementary gymnasium.
For many weeks, the students of social studies teacher Stephanie Willaby and her teaching partner, Pamela Anderson (who teaches science to the fourth-grade students), have been studying a specific state. What they learned they placed on a display board, ready to share with anyone wanting to know a bit about their “adopted state.” Research included the State Nickname, State Flower, State Bird, State Food, State Muffin, State Animal, State Insect . . . State “Whatever” – along with what makes that particular state a great state. Also assisting the students in creating their state display boards was Pam Osland of the MLES Media Center.
On top of sharing knowledge about their state, the students provided state fair attendees with plenty of selections of food-on-a-toothpick, or on a cracker or on a plate, or a snack-in-a-cup or beverage-in-a-glass.
Below is a photo gallery of some of the fourth-graders – and their respective state boards:
KOLE HABERMAN STUDIED Wisconsin – “The Badger State.” And, of course for all Green Bay Packer fans, his lettering was in the pro football team’s traditional colors – gold and dark green. (Yeah, Vikings fans in the elementary gym were “Minnesota Nice,” remaining neighbor-friendly to Kole.)
ELEANOR EKEN, LEFT, was ready to answer any and all questions posed by MLES Principal Karl Wassman, right, about her state – Virginia.
CORN AND THE Cornhusers were placed front-and-center on the display board of Daniel Reyes as he promoted Nebraska (and University of Nebraska Big 10 college football).
VICTORIA GONZALEZ IS proud to be a Texas cowgirl with the opportunity to share all about “The Lone Star State.”
THE STATE OF Missouri sports a trio of nicknames – “The Cave State,” “Mother of the West” and “The Show Me State.” Above, Landon Strom, right, took that third nickname to heart when he was able to personally “show” all that his state has to offer to his dad, Nik Strom, left; his mom, Jackie Strom, second from left and his youngest sister, Lauren Strom, second from right (Leah Strom is Landon’s other younger sister, and she was busy in her elementary classroom.)
THE MLES SIXTH grade students were able to savor the flavor(s) of the State Fair, but also had work to do, interviewing the fourth-graders and jotting down the information. Above, Areli Capetillo, front, asks fourth-grade student McKenna Parent, back, questions about her state of California. Kyle Blomgren teaches social studies to both sections of sixth grade, while his teaching partner, Annette Kunkel, handles the science curriculum for all sixth-graders.
WHAT BETTER WAY to tempt than with chocolate. Dustin Falk studied the state of Pennsylvania, and of course, the city of Hershey and its claim to fame, the Hershey’s Chocolate Company. According to Dusty, Hershey’s, is one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in North America. It was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 as the Hershey Chocolate Company, a subsidiary of his Lancaster Caramel Company. Hershey’s products are sold in over 60 countries worldwide.
STATE FAIR ATTENDEES were given the chance to imagine kicking back in the Nevada sunshine with a refreshing glass of AriZona iced tea and a piece of corn bread, courtesy of Jacey Klassen.
PEPSI WAS FIRST introduced as “Brad’s Drink” in New Bern, North Carolina in 1893 by Caleb Bradham, who made it at his drug store where the drink was sold. It was renamed Pepsi Cola in 1898 for the root of the word “dyspepsia” and the kola nuts used in the recipe. Aayla Radtke provided samples of the cola to State Fair attendees. By looking at Aayla’s display, North Carolina is also the native state for Mt. Olive Pickles, Gold Peak Tea – and Krispy Kreme. Whatta state!
