For their American History class, eighth graders wrote and illustrated children’s books based on a historical event from the 1960s. According to Mr. Gautham Akula, Eighth Grade English/ History Teacher, this was a pilot project to teach students “how to create an engaging story… and take a complex subject and make it understandable to a younger audience.” Topics included the story of Ruby Bridges (involving public school desegregation), the 1967 March on the Pentagon, and the Apollo 11 space race. In a cross-divisional effort, third graders from the LS participated in studentled reading sessions. “This gives our student authors an authentic audience for their work,” said Mr. Akula. Gemma A. ’29, whose book was on the Stonewall riots that sparked a gay rights movement, said she chose her subject because it “provides a good message for kids of acceptance.”
