History center stage

Mike Sciacca

Jared Rutan showed about as much ingenuity as Benjamin Franklin, the

person he was portraying.

He donned a black vest, white shirt and dark pants that he rolled to

the knees to resemble the knickers of the 18th century, as he talked

fellow students and a group of kindergartners about one of the most

famous Americans in the history of the country.

The 9-year-old gave his speech at center stage, peering at his notes

through a pair of cleverly designed homemade glasses made of coat-hanger

wire, which rested at the end of his nose.

He wore them just the way that Franklin himself had.

“He was a very interesting person and I’m glad I picked him,” said

Jared, who also held a homemade kite while he spoke.

The kite’s body was made up of four panels of multicolored

construction paper. “This was a fun project.”

It was history come to life, and the culmination of a seven week

project for 102 third-graders at Kettler Elementary School.

Muhammad Ali sat in between Clara Barton and Betsy Ross.

“When they came in costume today, you could see the excitement in

their faces,” said third-grade teacher Sandy Harrell.

Harrell and fellow third-grade teachers had their students select a

famous person and give that person’s biography in an oral report.

Students were required to do a timeline and research work on that person,

hand in a rough draft and then present a three-to-five minute speech on

the final day.

Jared discovered that Benjamin Franklin opened up America’s first

library, set up the country’s postal system, signed both the Declaration

of Independence and the U.S. Constitution and came up with the idea of

daylight savings time.

Jared also knew that Franklin’s face graced the $100 bill.

To his dismay, he did o7 notf7 have one on his possession.

“I was surprised that he made a lightning rod and he was the 15th

child in his family, and there were 17 kids in his family. He did a lot

for our country,” he said.

* MIKE SCIACCA is the education and sports reporter. He can be reached

at (714) 965-7171 or by e-mail at michael.sciacca@latimes.com.