Winfield Central fifth-graders portray important black figures

The fifth-grade students at Winfield Central School had a thing or two to teach fellow classmates about major figures in black history.

Students in Rich Bernklau's class spent Feb. 28 creating a "living history" museum for fellow students.

Dressed up as Muhammad Ali, Rosa Parks and Ella Fitzgerald, the kids presented first-person accounts of their subject's history to fellow students and parent visitors.

"The point is to have these kids talk about and get exposed to the diversity in our culture," Bernklau said.

Bernklau's class spent the month of February researching their subjects, all in preparation for the daylong first-person narrative they would retell to the school.

Some, such as Jed Ebbert, dove right into their roles, wearing outfits reflective of the subject. Ebbert, who spent the month learning about Muhammad Ali, dressed in boxing ring attire, complete with a pair of gloves and a red robe.

"By the end of the day, most of the kids didn't even need their note cards," Bernklau said. "They had the mannerisms down and knew their person."