Here at Barker Middle School, for the first time, we have an Historical Explorers Club. Historical Explorers is an after-school club open to all students who have a heightened interest in history. Every Tuesday, students meet after-school with Miss Mariah Pol, a 7th and 8th grade Social Studies teacher. Miss Pol was awarded grant monies from the Michigan City Education Foundation to help subsidize costs to initiate the program at Barker.
Students in Historical Explorers have been designing independent historical research projects. The after-school club is a part of the greater organization National History Day, which is in partnership with other organizations such as: the History Channel, National Endowment of the Humanities, and the Indiana Historical Society. All across the country, students are competing at regional history day fairs. Projects that excel at regionals, advance to a state competition in Indianapolis, and can further advance to a national competition in May in Maryland. Barker students will be competing this weekend at a regional competition showcasing their various independent projects to historical experts such as other teachers, scholars, professors, etc.
Barker students have researched and developed projects on various topics. 8th grade student James Washington is developing a documentary titled “Simon Bolivar: Liberator or Dictator.” 8th grade students Mya Rankin and Julia Ringstad have worked together to develop a documentary as well titled “Unsung Hero: Alexander Hamilton.” 7th grade student Isabelle Eaton has developed an website individually titled “Malala Yousafzai: Education for her Country” through the Weebly website generator. Ravon Salcido and Arnica Sheaffer also choose to present their research through a Weebly titled “The Forgotten Abolitionist: Ralph Waldo Emerson.”
Students had the option of producing performances, exhibits, or research papers as well. When asked why all the groups chose websites or documentaries, rather than the other categories, they responded that they felt “most comfortable” with technology. As students of the 21st century, they are practicing skills needed for their future career environments. Arnica Sheaffer also commented that they felt “comfortable using technology because they do so daily on social media.” James Washington commented that he chose to do a documentary because the “presentation style let’s the history present itself.” He also enjoys developing videos for his social studies class when they use programs such as iMovie and is familiar with it.
Arnica Sheaffer and Ravon Salcido mentioned that they joined Historical Explorers club because they not only love being involved in all the school’s extracurricular activities but because this is the first time Barker has offered something for those interested in history. James Washington commented that this club allows him to “truly show his academic potential to not only his school community but to historical experts as well.” He also expressed that he feels it will help prepare him with the necessary skills to pursue a degree in History in his college career.
We wish all of these dedicated Barker students the most success in their regional competition at St. Mary’s College, in Notre Dame, Indiana this Saturday, February 25th.