Fifth Grade Fun with State Fair

When Katherine Curtin '14 began researching Louisiana for the annual Fifth Grade State Fair, she had heard of Mardi Gras but didn't know the origins of the event. Through her research she discovered that what appeared to just be a giant celebration actually had religious roots dating back to the Christian holiday of Easter.

“It was a party called ‘Fat Tuesday' where people enjoyed one last celebration before they gave up vices for Lent,” said Curtin. “It was cool to learn about the history like that.”

Gabriela Gayley '14, pictured at left, studied New Mexico, one of the four corner states. She created a “Twister” game where visitors would spin a wheel and have to place feet or hands in each of the four corner states without toppling to the ground.

Discovering facts like this is the basis of the State Fair, along with creating fun and informative games and displays to showcase each state. Each year for one day in March, the Lower School gymnasium is transformed into a marketplace of color, sounds, and fun as students and parents learn about their country's states from Fifth Grade students who have thoroughly studied their state of choice.

Alex Haigh '14, seen at right, focused on Wisconsin, a state famous for both cheese and cheese headwear!

The tradition of the State Fair started in 1989 by former Fifth Grade Teacher Lynda Dugas (P '17) as a take off on the World's Fair. Fifth Grade Teacher Jack Denny-Brown took the reins later and created the current beloved incarnation.

“When Lynda switched to Grade Four, I picked up the idea and changed it to a State Fair, because I felt that would be more in line with our colonial studies curriculum,” said Denny-Brown. “In the years that followed, we added the interactive games.”

The games are a big part of the Fair's success, but they were not always the focus.

“Originally the visiting classes would walk about and talk to the presenters about their state, but we felt there needed to be some game component, so we came up with the idea of state games—and the food followed closely behind,” explains Denny-Brown. “It has become increasingly easier to motivate the kids to make creative games, since they see what others have done over the years before they ever have to do it themselves.”

Did you know that Maine is the lobster capital of the world? Julia Tompkins '14, pictured at left, can tell you all about it with her informative display, which initially included plans for live lobster races on the gymnasium floor.

One look around the gymnasium was proof that this year's Fifth Grade needed little motivation for their projects.

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