8th grade

Eighth graders were treated to an Early American Christmas celebration on Friday as a capstone experience to their study of the American Revolution.  Mr. Miller, Mr. Stapleton, Mrs. Moell, and Mr. Lauck pulled out all the stops with a traditional feast, games and dancing.  Mrs. Moell hosted a Christmas dinner including mince meat pie, venison meatballs, dried fruits, crystallized ginger, breads, cheeses, egg nog and mulled cider.  Students actuallly tried everything!  Some were bigger fans of the mince meat pie than others, but at least they all tried!  Mr. Stapleton invited the Liberty Dancers from the George Rogers Clark Heritage Association to teach early American dances.  Students had a good time dancing and laughing at how different dances were in the eighteenth century, and it was nice to see our students working together.  Mr. Miller hosted early American games.  They had laughing competitions where they worked to make their opponent laugh first, and some other charade type activities.  In Mrs. Fullenkamp and Mrs. Harman’s class they made beautiful 3D paper ornaments.  Ornament making and Christmas crafts are usually a thing of the past by middle school, so it was fun to watch them really embrace making ornaments again!  Using these learning experiences is a great way for students and teachers to engage and interact with one another on a different level than just through class room instruction and it proved to be just what everyone needed before the holiday break!