THE AMERICAN SPIRIT FESTIVAL

April 23 - 2010

The American Spirit Festival is an opportunity to bring your knowledge of American History to life!

Each class will be assigned a historical period, for instance, the Revolutionary Period.

Each student will portray a historical figure from that period, for instance, George Washington.

The day will begin with a costume parade where each group will present their banner and anthem. The banner and anthem should capture the spirit of your historical period. They may draw inspiration from historical symbols or songs, but they should also have a creative component.

Each class will then present a series of tableaux or a mini-play that presents important events or ideas of the time period.

Finally, the six classes will compete in a game-show type activity that includes academic, philosophical, and athletic challenges.

Your job:

• Bring your historical character to life. Your speech and demeanor throughout the day of the festival should be true to character.
• Prepare a historically accurate costume for your character. We will discuss ways to achieve accuracy without renting a costume or buying expensive materials.
• Contribute to the banner, song, and performance prepared by your class. You will be evaluated on your effort and good citizenship during collaborative work time.