BURLINGTON — Students at Marshall Simonds Middle School are receiving recognition for their creativity and civic engagement after participating in the statewide We Declare! Challenge.
Organized by iCivics, the We Declare! Challenge commemorates the upcoming 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding by encouraging Massachusetts students to perform dramatic readings of the Declaration of Independence. Through the project, students analyze, interpret and present the historic text in their own voices using their deepened understandings of civic principles and democracy.
Under the guidance of history teacher Deanna DiSipio, students collaborated to produce a video re-enacting portions of the historic document. As part of the project, students dressed in period-inspired attire, created original artwork and used film equipment to capture their performance, blending history and creative expression.
Students shared their thoughts on the experience, one saying, “Instead of sitting in a classroom and reading a textbook, you get to actually take something and make it your own, which is really exciting.”
Participants in the challenge are tasked with submitting videos by June 3, with the winning class being awarded scholarship funds and the chance for their video to be shown at the Boston Pops July 4th celebration.
“This experience has allowed students to further their learning and engage with the words and ideals that shaped our nation,” says DiSipio. “By combining research, performance and creativity, they now understand the importance of civic voice.”
To hear what Marshall Simonds teachers and students have to say about the challenge, click here.
To learn more about the We Declare! Challenge, click here.
###
Discover more from John Guilfoil Public Relations
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.