During the Life School McKinney African American Museum, students completed art projects in honor of some African American citizens that have helped shape our nation’s history.
Some of the art projects included Kindergarten’s “unity wreath” and excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King’s passionate “I Have a Dream” proclamation.
In honor of Harriett Tubman, first graders made a large apple tree that hung from ceiling to floor. It was covered with apples that contained symbols of freedom.
Second grade artwork related to the accomplishments of Rosa Parks and Althea Gibson. Students painted a large yellow school bus filled with Life School second graders of every color. Then they drew pictures of Rosa Parks, the city bus, and the Medal of Honor that she later received for her heroic stand. Second graders sketched pictures of Althea Gibson playing tennis and holding trophies she had won.
Third graders completed a timeline of President Obama’s life including pictures that represented various objects of interest to him. They learned about the President as a young child, discussed some of the obstacles he had to overcome, and learned about his journey to the presidency.
Fourth graders studied the life of George Washington Carver. They completed a timeline that highlighted important dates in Mr. Carver’s life, his continuing education, scientific experiments, and accomplishments. Students also drew pictures of his experiments with and various uses for black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, and peanuts.
Life School McKinney students did a remarkable job of showcasing African American History through their artwork. Through these lessons, students learned the truth of what African American tennis player Althea Gibson said, “I always wanted to be somebody. If I made it, it’s half because I was game enough to take a lot of punishment along the way and half because there were a lot of people who cared enough to help me.”
At Life School, students are trained to become leaders in their sphere of influence; leaders who are willing to give their best consistently, overcome obstacles, and exemplify an attitude of gratitude for all who have helped them along the way. They will help shape individuals and our nation’s future.
