Oak School students recently welcomed a visit from Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd, played by Michael Krebs and Debra Ann Miller. The pair came as part of the fifth graders’ study of the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln discussed the challenges of leading the nation, ending slavery and dealing with the hardships of the times. Mary Todd also tearfully shared a letter from a mother who had lost her children in the war. On a more positive note, they also told the story of how they met and the family and friends who influenced their lives. Students were captivated by the moving performance, which teachers Anne Rigazio and Lyn Leahy say was a perfect ending to the unit. "The students were immersed in learning about life during the Civil War, which crossed multiple curricular areas. With the collaboration of many teaching staff members, we produced a multimedia project showcasing all of the students' learning. The tabletop movie that the students created utilized the highest levels of thinking within Bloom's Taxonomy as well as the Common Core learning standards." Prior to the Lincolns’ performance, students heard from former Oak School parent and Hinsdale resident Coleman Tuggle, who shared his collection of items from the Civil War era.
The Lincolns came to Oak again in the evening for a presentation that welcomed parents, as well. Families also enjoyed the student-made movie about the Civil War and a musical performance by the students in Kindergarten and Grades 1-5.
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Pictured: Oak School 5th grader Luke Pyle stands beside Michael Krebs, who portrayed former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in a special presentation given as part of the students’ study of the Civil War.
