A state of learning

Christine Carrillo

Ronald Reagan was an OK actor who always played the good guy roles

in movies.

Well, that’s how fifth-grader James Chai described the former

president during his portrayal of him at the Pegasus School States

Fair on Tuesday.

Having diligently worked for nearly four months on preparing for

the fair, Chai and his fellow fifth-graders were given an opportunity

to present and display their hard work to their parents and to

fourth-graders, who will put on a states fair next year.

“They had a lot of their own creativity with it and used their

personalities to put together their own costumes,” said teacher Riva

Lippincott, who has taught at Pegasus for 14 years. “I was totally

impressed with everything. They just love being in front of

everybody. They have no qualms about it.”

Whether following the political route or taking a trip to

Hollywood, the fifth-graders at the Pegasus School transformed

themselves from head to toe.

“The experience made the children learn much more,” said Jim

Connelly, whose son, Will, chose Norman Rockwell as his character.

“It really brought everything to life.”

After each student received a state during their second week of

school, their research began. Their task -- to find a person to

represent their state and learn everything they could about him or

her.

Giving a presentation on the person they chose was not, however,

their only task. The students also created timelines of events that

occurred in their state; they made physical and political maps of

their state; and they put together diagrams and booklets about their

state, weaving the project into various elements of the curriculum.

“I think it’s actually really cool how they do it,” said

fifth-grader Ethan Ayres, who was dressed as Broadway producer George

Cohan and represented Rhode Island.

Although many of the students agreed, others said the project had

its drawbacks.

“The hardest part was the political map, because you had to draw

all these lines ... and it had to be exact,” said Nick Flamson, who

was dressed in the quintessential Gary Cooper suit and hat

representing the state of Montana.

While, like most school projects, the assignment has its downside,

the students, parents and teachers agreed that the states fair, now

in its seventh year, is really a great way to learn.

“It’s got artistry in it; it’s got research, history, and they

even use math,” Lippincott said. “It’s a great memory they can take

with them for years to come.”