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Students get lesson in history, manners
 Seventeen students from the Family Community Christian School gathered on a sunny afternoon recently for an old-fashioned tea party at the home of Lee Ann and K.P. Bonner.
Ms. Bobbie Bruce's second grade class attended the party donned in attire like that of storybook characters from the 'American Girl' book series.
Introduced in 1986, Pleasant Company released The American Girls Collection which included a series of 30 books of historical fiction that tell the stories of five characters: Felicity, Kirsten, Addy, Samantha and Molly, who lived during pivotal times in America's history. The collection includes quality-crafted dolls, historically active miniature accessories, clothing and furniture that bring the American Girls to life in vivid detail.
Since then, the collection has evolved to include the American Girl magazine, several retail stores and a special classroom curriculum designed to integrate social studies and language arts with a blend of literature and history.
Ever the constant educator, Bruce has found a way to introduce historical events in America to her young students with the sweet fellowship of a tea party with friends.
Following the lessons of "Felicity," a spritely colonial girl from 1774, represented by Hannah Crye and Haylie Ogden, students learned how to be polite gentlewomen and the proper way to serve tea.
On the manicured lawn of the Bonner home, each student introduced themselves during a style show and gave a brief presentation of the historical impact on the characters from each book. The American Girl series portrays America's history from 1704 to 1974.
Representing characters in full period costume from the series were Hannah Crye, Haylie Ogden, Dylan Eckard, Jacob Gray, Joe Michael Price, Grace Fife, Madison Bonner, Ashley Thomas, Reagan Henderson, Macy Vines, Hali Hutto, Rachel Martin, Mandy Parker, Colton Jordan, Jaidyn Oliver, Brittney Hughes, Madison Lowe and Ms. Bobbie Bruce as Miss Manderly.
The 104-year-old home on Randall Street served as the perfect setting for the party. Granddaughter Madison Bonner gave a brief history of the home that has been in her family since 1916 when her great great grandparents Mary Marr and Edwin Randall bought the house for $2,500.
Hostess Lee Ann Bonner served tea, teacakes and finger sandwiches at parlor tables set with China cups, saucers and tea kettles.
All of the children were mindful of their manners and Jaidyn Oliver won the door prize.
Bruce has been reading books from the American Girl series to her students since 1986. To bring the tales to life, she also dresses in the historical attire of the doll representative of that series with a display of accessories from each story. Her passion for reading and finding interesting ways to make learning fun has inspired many of her students to begin their own collection of these historical dolls.
Each of the books in the series is an illustrated novel containing two stories of a loveable 9-year-old whose struggles and successes are the timeless experience of growing up.
To learn more about the American Girl collection, visit americangirl.com. |
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