OBU Education Majors Give Local Students Historical Look at the 1960s

November 4, 2016

OBU teacher education students hosted an interactive children’s museum Nov. 2 on the OBU campus in Shawnee. This semester’s edition was titled “Defining Events of the 1960's: A Historical Study Using Photographs as Text.” A group of fifth grade students from North Rock Creek Elementary School attended the event.

This was the 35th interactive children’s museum held at OBU. At the event, students learn through activities created by teacher education majors. The popular event was created by elementary education majors in the social studies methods course for elementary education taught by Dr. Jeanne Akin, professor and Mary White Chair of Education. The interactive museum is a biannual event, held in the fall and the spring.

The students selected four iconic pictures from the 1960's and used those as a means to discuss the impact of Woodstock and pop culture on the times, Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights movement, the space race and the putting a man on the moon, and the impact of the Vietnam War.

The students involved in the creation of the museum were Kelly Burton, Amanda Cheatwood, McKenzie Crawford, Annie Denny, Kayla Gregory, Tiara Giudice, Tristen Jolly, Jessica Joy, Rachel Landes, Ann Marie McAnelly, Taylor Melton, Jacqueline Molina, Bridget Oakley, Skylar Phillips, Andrew Reich, and Karly Rhodes

“Through this project, my students practice pedagogical, collaborative and creative skills,” Akin said. “They develop not only a passion for social studies, but also a sense of responsibility and an understanding of the power that comes from sharing that knowledge with children.”