History came to life inside the Dell Rapids Middle School last week. About 70 fifth graders doubling as significant historical icons filled the middle school commons for the Living History Fair Thursday.

Each student stood in front of presentation boards featuring photos and facts they had gathered during the month. Also sharing the table with the presentations boards were small containers for coins to be placed. When spectators dropped coins in, the students came to life as the historical figure they were dressed as.

Thomas Jefferson, played by Dade Kroeger, revealed he went to college at age 16, spoke Latin, Greek and French and married into wealth.

Thane Hilmoe donned a baseball jersey and spit out a laundry list of Jackie Robinson stats and biographical information.

Hilmoe said he was familiar with Robinson before the project but learned a lot more, like where the shortstop was born (Cairo, Ga.), who he married (Rachel Robinson) and how many home runs he hit (137).

“I love baseball,” Hilmoe said.
Fifth grade teacher Jennifer Doyle said in addition to studying history, the project helps equip the students with a broad set of skills.

The students began the project with a lesson on research skills and some training on the school libraries directory, she said. And they also build preparation and oral presentation skills through the project, Doyle said.

“They speak in front of their peers all the time but not like this,” she said.

The living history fair was also a service project for the fifth graders.

The coins used were legal tender. Money raised will benefit Dell Rapids high school student Damon Scott’s team in an upcoming multiple sclerosis fundraiser.

Scott, recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, needs to raise $2,000 to enter the summer event.

Doyle said last year’s fair raised about $500.