By MICHELLE MILLER
Staff Writer
Researching a notable character
in history and then dressing
up and portraying that person’s
life has become a tradition at
Cooperstown Central School.
Eighth-grade students spend
about six weeks each year learning
about someone worthy of notice,
prominent or distinguished,
and then conclude their project
by hosting a ``Night of the Notables’’
for the public.
Eighth-grader Elle Kenyon,
who did her research on Grandma
Moses, said she really likes
the presentation part of the project.
``It is a lot more nerve-wracking
than taking a test or writing
an essay, but it is a lot more
fun.’’
Kenyon said she liked being
able to dress up like her notable
and getting into character.
``We are able to learn a lot
more about our people because
we are them,’’ she said.
``The Night of the Notables’’
project is designed to help the
eighth-graders gain a better understanding
of their notable
character. The project, which is a
collaboration of history and English,
has several parts to it, according
to eighth-grade social
studies teacher Maggie Pokorny.
She said the history portion requires
students to select a notable
person of interest, research
that person by using at least
three ``quality’’ sources, create a
display on the person, assemble a
costume and props, prepare an
introduction, create answers as
the notable, write a bibliography
and reenact the person. The English
teacher has the students
make a scrap book that includes
items such as a business card, a
letter of recommendation, an
award certificate and a collage
page, said Pokorny. Scrapbooks
were on display in the cafeteria
during the ``Night of the Notables,’’
event.
Students also learned how to
manage their time, become organized
and practice their note-taking
and public speaking skills,
according to Pokorny.
Pokorny said teacher volunteers
went around interviewing
the students before the public
presentation. She said the scoring
will be used for a portion of
the overall history grade the students
will receive for their projects.
Some students chose notables
whom they had heard about, others
chose by areas of interest or
someone who has impacted them
while growing up, while some
tried to learn about somebody
new or someone who was a first
at accomplishing something.
Eight-grader Collin Berry said
he chose to research Alexander
Hamilton because he did a project
on Aaron Burr last year and
learned a lot about Hamilton
during that process. Berry, who
said he is interested in learning
about war and battles, said the
project intrigued him and made
him want to learn more.
Tanner Williams said he
thought it would be ``pretty fun’’
to do a report on a magician, so
he chose Harry Houdini. Williams
said he found it ironic that
there is a myth that says Houdini
died during one of his tricks,
when in fact he died when his appendix
erupted. Williams said he
also found it interesting that
most people were not too impressed
when Houdini first tired
to get out of a straightjacket.
Patrick Wilson said he grew
up watching Steve Irwin on television
a lot, and that is why he
chose to do his project on the
``Crocodile Hunter.’’
``I am sad he has passed away
from a rare sting ray attack,’’ said
Wilson.
Another reason Wilson said he
became interested in Irwin was
because he and his father discovered
a new breed of turtle in
2004.
James Johnson said he selected
Thomas Jefferson for his project
because he is related to him
by marriage and his family has
always been interested in the
third President of the United
States.
``He did a lot of great things for
America,’’ said Johnson.
Johnson said he already knew
a lot about Jefferson before beginning
his research. However,
he said he found many quotes
that related to what is going on in
current America that he posted
on his display board.
Johnson said his favorite part
of the project was getting his costume
together.
He said he looked at a photograph
of Jefferson to see how to
best portray him. Johnson found
a reddish colored wig, black boots,
long white boots, pants and a
dark blue horseback riding jacket
to wear.
Lindsay Harloff said she used
to ride horse when she was
younger so she decided to do her
project on horse jockey Julie Krone.
In 1993, Krone became the
first female jockey to win a Triple
Crown race when she captured
the Belmont Stakes aboard Colonial
Affair. In 2000, she became
the first woman inducted into the
National Museum of Racing and
Hall of Fame.
Harloff said everything she
learned while doing her research
was new to her.
She said she found it interesting
that the jockey used to ride
her pet dog as a child because she
could not get up on the horse’s
back yet. Harloff said Krone rode
horses her entire life and did not
like school because it took away
from her riding time, and quit at
the age of 17.
Harloff said she also found it
interesting that Krone wrote poetry
as a child in a way to cope
with her parents going through a
divorce.
Harloff said when Krone retired
in 2004 she had won over
3,000 races.
``That is pretty amazing,’’ said
Harloff.
Kelsey Lent said she has always
been interested in women
starting new things and that is
why she chose Sally Ride as her
notable. In 1983, Ride became
the first American woman and, at
the time, the youngest American
to enter space.
Lent said she enjoyed exploring
the accomplishments of Ride.
It was a more interesting way of
learning other than sitting in a
classroom and taking notes, she
said.
Alani Tsouvas said she knew
she wanted to do her project on a
Native American. She said she
initially wanted to research
Sacajawea, but another classmate
had chosen her so she selected
Pocahontas instead.
``I didn’t even realize she was a
real person,’’ said Tsouvas.
Tsouvas said the Disney movie
about her portrays Pocahontas
pretty well because it contains
many real-life experiences.
David Zoltick said he is a
``pretty big ‘’ baseball fan so he
decided to learn more about one
of the game’s legends Jackie Robinson.
Zoltick said he also thought
his notable choice was appropriate
seeming he lives in Cooperstown,
home of baseball.
Zoltick said he did not realize
what an overall athlete Robinson
was.
``He was good at a number of
sports,’’ said Zoltick. ``He was actually
a better football player
than baseball player.’’
According to Zoltick, Robinson
actually began his professional
sports career in 1941 by playing
football for the Los Angeles Bulldogs.
Robinson’s football career
ended when World War II began,
as he entered the Army, rising to
the rank of first lieutenant.
Zoltick said he learned there
was a lot more to Robinson than
his baseball career and he especially
like learning about his military
life.
