Poplar Seventh-grade Students Learn About History Doing Projects

The first National History Day for seventh graders in Poplar was an educational success on Wednesday, March 25, as 55 students prepared displayed boards and many area residents attended to support the endeavor.

Melanie Ferguson, seventh- grade social studies teacher, said it was the first time that Poplar had such a display in many years.

Students began working on their projects during January. The students needed to select an important historical figure or event and provide detailed information about to entertain and inform teachers. Ferguson said a goal is to prepare the students to compete against other schools at a regional event next year.

The three categories that students could decide upon were Native American and Montana history, U.S. history and world history.

Ferguson said 16 students picked Native American/ Montana history, 29 selected U.S. history and eight went with world history.

“They did their own research and history,” Ferguson explained.

The projects needed to consist of a five paragraph essay with work cited. The most popular person featured was Sacagawea.

Starla Grandchamp earned the best of show award. Honors were decided by high school and middle school teachers.

Grandchamp’s project profiled Chief Sitting Bull.

“Because he’s a brave warrior,” Grandchamp said of her topic.

Winning the blue ribbon for Native American/Montana history was Dillinger Smith for Jim Thorpe. Placing second was Kenyon Olson for Sitting Bull and taking third was Shaydin Hagadone for Jim Thorpe.

Also winning blue ribbons at the event were Malik Red Eagle for Beethoven and Eli Gibbs for Jackie Robinson.

Earning second-place honors were Jalissa Black Thunder for Pearl Harbor and Domanick Falcon for Nikola Tesla.

Capturing third-place awards were Dayton Lovan for Nelson Mandela and Sadie Jefferson for Anne Frank.