Harmar Elementary School students get history lesson
Harmar Elementary School fifth-grade students raise their hands during a 235th-anniversary recognition of the arrival of the first American regiment to build Fort Harmar Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Fifth-grade Harmar Elementary Student Addison Graham highlights key facts about Fort Harmar in class Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
A celebration of the 235th anniversary of the landing on the banks of Harmar, and the subsequent month that U.S. soldiers built the fort where Harmar Elementary School still stands today was recognized by fifth-graders and the Sons of the American Revolution on Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Harmar Elementary fifth-grade students stand for the Pledge of Allegiance outside of the school during a special program about Fort Harmar Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Harmar Elementary School fifth-grade students raise their hands during a 235th-anniversary recognition of the arrival of the first American regiment to build Fort Harmar Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Fifth-grade Harmar Elementary Student Addison Graham highlights key facts about Fort Harmar in class Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
A celebration of the 235th anniversary of the landing on the banks of Harmar, and the subsequent month that U.S. soldiers built the fort where Harmar Elementary School still stands today was recognized by fifth-graders and the Sons of the American Revolution on Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Harmar Elementary fifth-grade students stand for the Pledge of Allegiance outside of the school during a special program about Fort Harmar Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Trending
Harmar fifth-graders utilized critical thinking skills Thursday after an outside program put on by the Sons of the American Revolution left them wanting to know more.
"Where did the pentagon go?" asked Addison Graham, of her teacher Todd Caltrider after class settled back at desks.
Graham and her classmates were assigned to recall dates, interesting facts and then read further Thursday.
"So tonight, when your parents say they heard you had a special program at school today … And they say 'tell me about it,'" prompted Caltrider.
The program was put on as a celebration of the 235th anniversary of the landing on the banks of Harmar, and the subsequent month that U.S. soldiers built the fort where Harmar Elementary School still stands today.
Students heard from local historians Jean Yost, Tony Durm and David Baker about the first organized settlers landing at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers, while sitting in rows before chapter members dressed in Revolutionary War-era garb.
Then inside with highlighters in hand and proverbial thinking caps on heads, they got to work deciphering.
"This (handout) is very clearly divided into paragraphs," emphasized Caltrider. "We've been working on seeking text evidence to provide quality answers."
Students were asked to highlight keywords, facts and questions to return for discussion Thursday.
One student pointed to the fort as the U.S. Army field headquarters for the entire western frontier, another noted the treaties signed with sessions beginning on Dec. 13, 1788.
"Since we are studying Native Americans right now, did anyone find this treaty interesting?" Caltrider prompted.
But what caught most interest Thursday?
The construction of the fort with horizontal logs instead of vertical posts, and the Doughty peach.
Heads popped up both at the description of the peach grove during the formal presentation, then again in the classroom.
"I want to taste one," shouted one child.
The class was excited to discuss how the peach orchard grew in abundance outside of the fort and that one remnant of the family line still exists today in Ohio.