Cunningham 5th-graders put state displays on wheels, parade Turlock campus
Fifth-graders at Cunningham Elementary pick a state to write a report about, like most California 10- and 11-year-olds. But at this Turlock campus, they take their show on the road.
As patriotic songs played through loudspeakers, the annual Cunningham parade of kids and their state presentations on wheels wound past classrooms of waving younger students and preschoolers Wednesday morning. They even passed a solemn critique by parade veterans from last year, the sixth-graders, now studying world history.
“Fifth-graders study U.S. history and traditionally they do their state reports,” Principal Tami Truax said. “They all do an essay, but at Cunningham it takes on a whole new flavor and a lot of excitement for the entire school.”
The 120 floats rolled by on an assortment of wagons, skateboards and preschool toys. Citlali Vazquez decked out a two-tier serving cart with symbols of Hawaii, including a Barbie doll sunbathing in shell-strewn sand and a working volcano.
A wagon carrying a miniature mountain forest, three bright red apples and a large Starbucks cup illustrated Alexa Maldonado’s state of Washington.
Vivianna Mendoza spread pennies across her display to show the copper mined in Arizona. Neighboring New Mexico’s pueblos received a sandy display of cactus from Eydi Duque, who said she picked the state because of her Native American heritage.
A live chicken from his family farm stood in for a Rhode Island red on Jadon Harcksen’s display about the smallest state in the nation. “I have a living aspect to my float,” said Jadon, also pointing out a potted red maple, the state tree, and a blooming violet, the Rhode Island state flower.
Dad Mike Harcksen was among the parents gathered for the parade, cellphones recording the moment. “He learned a lot,” Harcksen said. “He learned it wasn’t an island – that was one thing. He tried to find something comparable to California, and it’s about the size and population of the San Francisco Bay Area.”
The students got a grade for their float, as well as a seven-paragraph written report, said fifth-grade teacher Joy Gonzales. “It combines social studies, writing and research standards with the Common Core (State Standards) hands-on,” she said. “It adds in the artistic, creative, and it has to be on wheels, so it brings in engineering as well.”
Students also had to give an oral presentation in front of the class, with a question-and-answer period. The last of Gonzales’ students gave his presentation Wednesday.
Juan Velasco recited facts and cool tidbits about North Dakota, such as the white buffalo in Jamestown. “Is that named after the real Jamestown?” asked a classmate, clarifying he meant the one in Virginia.
Around them, the classroom walls were layered with cutout silhouettes of presidents on top of drawings of masonry, giving the room the feel of a fort lined with portraits. Desks had muslin toppers like covered wagons. “We’re following the Oregon trail,” Gonzales explained.
Classrooms have taken Common Core’s learning-by-doing philosophy to heart, Truax said. “Our teachers decided to bring curriculum to life for the kids.”
This story was originally published May 16, 2015 at 3:10 PM with the headline "Cunningham 5th-graders put state displays on wheels, parade Turlock campus."