 Mr. Gantt and Rev. Dr. Douglas discuss history with 8th grade fans as others tour the student-created Civil Rights projects that ringed the gym.  Today Piedmont hosted two distinguished guests: African-American heros of the civil rights movement Mr. Harvey Gantt and Rev. Dr. Jesse Douglas. The men were invited to speak by Mr. Reddig, Ms. Benfield and Ms. Hon of the social studies department as part of the 8th grade Civil Rights lesson. The history displays (you see them in the background and for more detail please click here ) Piedmont students made came to life as the men recounted the difficulties and triumphs of their nonviolent fight for equal rights. Mr. Gantt recounted how became the first African American to integrate Clemson University and Rev. Dr. Douglass spoke of integrating the Georgia state capitol. Students learned of bravery, nonviolence and finding faith in themselves and their futures. "I look at you and I see the doctors, lawyers, scientists,and athletes you will become" Harvey Gantt, architect of Piedmont, Clemson's first African-American student and Charlotte's first African American Mayor said to the 8th grade. "I just wasn't afraid of anything" Dr. Douglas answered when students asked him how he found the bravery to lead. "We didn't have any weapons to fight anybody, but love conquers more than hate" Rev. Douglas told the audience as he described his work with SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) where he was often sent to pose as white to expose the hypocrisy of racial segregation. He urged students to create the America guaranteed to them in our founding documents: one truly free for all. Here are just a few highlights of the event:  "I look at you and I see the doctors, lawyers, scientists,and athletes you will become" Harvey Gantt, archtect fo Piedmont, Clemson's first African-American student and Charlotte's first African American Mayor said to the 8th grade.  Students applauded as Mr. Reddig announced that Mr. Gantt's architecture firm is responsible for designing the current Piedmont campus!  Students were honored to shake the hand of a living legend in civil rights.  Mr. Gantt smiles for the camera as the students take turns shaking his hand and asking him questions about his many achievements. Below, Principal Barone shakes hands with the Rev. Dr. Douglas and shares stories of the Gantt family's Piedmont history with Mr. Gantt.    A crowd of students gathered to meet the heros.  Rev. Dr. Douglas impressed upon the students that they were the next generation of leaders who would make a better world.  A momentous occasion such as this calls for some photos. Tonight students across Piedmont will be updating their social media accounts with the news.  Rev. Dr. Jesse Douglas shakes a young man's hand.   The crowd of students was excited at the honor.  Students who've had the opportunity to view Selma raise their hands as Dr. Douglas comments on his first-hand experiences there.  Mr. Reddig smiles with pride at being able to bring history to life for his students.  A young man looks up to Mr. Gantt.  "Since they did so much for our freedom to eat and learn where we want, the least we could do is buy them lunch." The prinicpal and assistant principal attended the social studies department meal in honor of our guests. Related Posts
http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/celebrating-piedmont/civil-rights-gymnasium http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/celebrating-piedmont/students-build-a-civil-rights-museum http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/celebrating-piedmont/7th-grade-brings-history-to-life http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/celebrating-piedmont/holocaust-survivor-visits-piedmont-to-speak
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Everything from auto engines to handicrafts were on display. And since the topics were 100% student-chosen, passion was evident in each one.
 Arrows point the way to Love of Learning exhibits as Ms. Bailey checks out one student's hand sewn fashion designs and a parent high fives a student who made his own suit of armor.
21st Century learners in action: parents and students make their way through the diverse exhibits on showcase day. 
Introductory video explaining love of learning http://youtu.be/CIsIEKUuBZU
Active Learning in Language and Humanities
Check out the awesome 7th grade team in these 2 new videos:
First is a video of Mrs. Alexander-Brown's classes Whirligig novel projects. After reading the novel as a class, students used their own interests to create something to consolidate what they learned. They had a choice of creating an annotated soundtrack, movie trailer, story re-write or symbolic whirligig. They ended up learning about the novel and about themselves as the participated in this literary maker movement. Pair it with Mr. Milligan's Pigman live court reenactment videos for examples of active student engagement!
Speaking of active student engagement, next is a video of 7th grade social studies World War I reenactment. Students answered review questions for a chance to charge the enemy, but had to watch out for the barbed wire and gas attacks if they wanted to win. As Mr. Egnot and students note in the video, the real lesson is there were no winners!
Related Posts:
During lunchtime on Digital Learning Day, students volunteered for this positive digital citizenship project. Bucking the perception of teenagers using digital devices for bullying, they used social media to bring more good in to the world. Part of the 2015 #Everyonematters global event, the video was featured on the Everyone Matters Day international Facebook page. Watch it and see if it doesn't renew your faith in the youth of today!
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 The National History Day theme is Leadership and Legacy. The Piedmont team chose to interpret that theme via their topic, "Harriet Beecher Stowe: The Woman Who Wrote the Civil War From the Piedmont Newsletter: Congratulations once again to Mr. Reddig and the National History Day team, Aaliyah McNeill, Crystell Phoenix, and Maya Lucas. They won 2nd place at the regional competition at UNCC. This year's theme is Leadership and Legacy, and their topic was "Harriet Beecher Stowe: The Woman Who Wrote the Civil War." Next up, they will compete at the state competition in Raleigh on April 25th. We wish them the best of luck! Mr. Reddig explains the student project : They are entered in the Junior Group Exhibit category. They created an amazing exhibit that consists of a glass display case full of artifacts, books by HBS, and biographies about HBS, a vintage piece of luggage that contained a variety of primary resources which included letters written from England and brochures from the HBS Historical Museum, and a student created pop-up book that displays the leadership and legacy roles of HBS. Harriet Beecher Stowe's leadership and legacy are evident in her roles in the abolition, prohibition, and suffrage movements. Her influence is most evident in the impact her novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin" had on the passions that were stirred which led to the Civil War and the legacy of the phrase "Uncle Tom."   The model was a 3D pop-up book  A display table included more objects about Mrs. Stowe  The exhibit includes a shadowbox-style diorama  Showing off their prize ribbons! |
Celebrating Piedmont : a blog of Happy HappeningsCategories
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Author"Celebrating Piedmont" logs only a small fraction of the learning magic the teachers of CMS' Piedmont Middle School, an IB World School. create daily. In that sense, it is authored by all the staff and students of Piedmont. It is curated by Ms. Gurthie who can be reached at the icons above. She'll be happy to brag about Piedmont's teachers and students any chance she gets! Please note this blog has only just begun and we have so much to show off! Come back again soon! |
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