Third Grade Elms Girls Invite First Lady Michelle Obama to Tea via YouTube
AKRON, OH - Our Lady of the Elms third graders are using a YouTube video to invite First Lady Michelle Obama to their Fourth Annual First Ladies of the United States of America Presentation Tea. YouTube video may be seen below or by visiting http://bit.ly/wrFAx3
Fourth grader Bre Frock had suggested a Facebook invitation, which spurred the class to create a YouTube video. The students suggested names and responsibilities of the First Ladies, which fourth-grade teacher Judi Buzzi set to music. Fourth grader Isabella Thomas-Patterson came up with the idea to wave the flag at the end of the video and classmates Alex Coleman and Lacy Nicholas came up with the motions.
Paper invitations were sent to Congresswoman Betty Sutton (OH-13), Senator Sherrod Brown, Senator Rob Portman, and Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-17). Congressman Ryan's office said they will try to hand-deliver the invitation to the First Lady's social secretary. The class hopes that someone will attend the tea and put a "face" on the government.
As stated by Judi Buzzi, "The tea is the culminating activity for the third grade social studies unit on the First Ladies. The lives of the First Ladies are used to illustrate the qualities of citizenship, patriotism, advocacy, leadership, and volunteerism." The girls are asked to research a First Lady and then create a PowerPoint presentation which is shared at the tea. The girls also research national symbols, voting rights, the Constitution, and the branches of government. This is the fourth year for the project.
Mrs. Buzzi has explained to the girls that it is a very long shot that Mrs. Obama will see the video, but they all made predictions about the number of hits the video would get.
Our Lady of the Elms School, a founded ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, is an independent, Catholic school rooted in the Dominican tradition, educates girls and young women to listen openly, evaluate wisely, speak bravely, lead justly, and serve compassionately.
