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MANSFIELD: Fifth-graders explore history

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   MANSFIELD — Fifth-graders led a journey back in time last week at their elementary school’s 11th annual Colonial Fair.
   Supported by their teachers at Mansfield Township Elementary School, students highlighted the Colonial communities of Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Massachusetts, Georgia and Rhode Island. In all, 115 fifth-graders participated.
   Assigned into small groups, the students showcased the facets of Colonial life. Students dressed in character highlighting various roles of the times — blacksmith, farmer, storyteller.
   Colonial America spans 1492 to the late 1700s. Family members as well as students from third, fourth and sixth grades were in attendance Nov. 15 to explore the fair.
   Students learned American history on early settlements, including topics covering diverse subject matter.
   ”They used axes to cut down logs to make houses and ships,” said fifth-grader Blair Letus, 10, of Colonial New York.
   ”It took like four weeks to do all of this,” said fifth-grader Zach Branton, 10, representing Colonial New York.
   Over on the other side of the room, a different group of fifth-graders were teaching lessons on the economy of Colonial New York. A table of candles and tools were by the students who were all set to discuss their knowledge with visitors, family members and friends.
   ”We learned about the economies, which are jobs,” said fifth-grader Emily Song, 10, of Colonial New York.
   ”This is a plow used from Colonial times,” said fifth-grader Luke Makai, 10, representing Georgia. “There are two layers of dirt. There’s the top part — the grass — and there’s the lower part — the good rich soil — and this is supposed to get to the good rich soil to plow it.”
   Luke noted another type of plow was used to make little hills ready for plants.
   According to Luke, he found this “very interesting.”
   ”We decided to do this event because it is a hands-on experience that took them away from traditional textbooks and lessons and made history more meaningful for them,” Lisa Dolci, a fifth-grade teacher, told the Register-News on Nov. 16.
   She said she co-founded fair with Karen Omiatek, a social studies teacher.
   ”The students showed such enthusiasm,” Ms. Dolci said.
   Teachers Sarah Martin, Diane D’Amico and Leanne Myers also taught social study lessons to participating fifth-graders.
   For Columbus mom Joyce Adomaka, it was her third year at the fair.
   Ms. Adomaka said, “The kids work hard on it,” noting they look forward to it as well.
   ”I think it’s an excellent event for the kids to get a deeper understanding of their colony,” said mom, Shaz Perrone, of Mansfield. “ (With) all the props and the fanfare around the event they . . . tend to remember better what they’ve learned,”
   She continued, “The highlight of the event included the pride that each student had in his or her work and the true accomplishment of reaching their goal.”