From the Classroom
When Fourth Graders Hear Osceola's Voice and Understand Why Wars Begin
When my fourth graders heard Osceola’s words after living through the Second Seminole War in our classroom simulation, the silence was profound. They weren’t just memorizing facts—they were grappling with why wars begin, how policies create conflict, and what it means to understand multiple perspectives.
When Your Students Experience 60 Years of Florida History in Four Days
"Mrs. Zema, this is getting really intense." This observation came from Emma, leader of our Seminole group, as we wrapped up Thursday's session on the Adams-Onís Treaty. Over the past week, my fourth graders had lived through 60 years of territorial changes, wars, and competing claims to Florida—and they were feeling the weight of it all. What started as an exciting competition over land had evolved into something much deeper.