From the Classroom
When Fourth Graders Debate Florida's Right to Vote
"The Speaker of the House recognizes Representative Jayden." The nine-year-old stands, clutching his handwritten bill. "My bill says that U.S. soldiers must guard every polling place in Florida during elections." The room erupts. This is Day 4 of our Reconstruction simulation, where 22 fourth graders are discovering that winning a war is actually easier than building a just government afterward.
When Fourth Graders Command the End of the Civil War
Days 10-11 brought the Battle of Natural Bridge, a civilian primary source, and the end of the Confederacy. Fourth graders learned what it means when continued fighting serves no purpose.
From Crisis to Hope: How Our Colony Found Its Heart at Fort Mose
"Mrs. Zema, this feels like the most important decision we've made yet." After surviving Drake's attack and Timucua tensions, my fourth graders faced a choice that would define their St. Augustine colony's character. When escaped slaves arrived seeking freedom, the students had to decide: What kind of community did they want to build?
Why Your Students Need Their Own History Portfolio (And How to Make It Happen)
"Mrs. Zema, can I show my mom my timeline?" Marcus was holding his composition notebook, pointing to where he'd documented Pedro Menéndez's landing. That moment reminded me why student learning portfolios aren't just "nice to have"—they're essential for helping students see themselves as historians and learners.
When History Comes for Your Colony: Our Students Face Drake's Attack
"Before dawn, English privateer Sir Francis Drake launches a surprise raid on the settlement. His ships fire from the sea while his men rush ashore. The Spanish scramble to respond. Smoke fills the air." Twenty-two fourth graders held their breath as I read the event card that would determine their colony's fate. After a week of hurricanes, policy changes, and tough decisions, this was their biggest test yet.
Florida History Gets an Upgrade
Three years ago, I was drowning in Studies Weekly newspapers. You know the ones—those thin, social studies "newspapers" that somehow managed to make Florida's incredible history feel as exciting as reading a phone book. There had to be a better way, and I found it.