Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District’s fifth-grade students in the gifted and talented program, S.P.A.R.K., explored the lives and legacies of U.S. presidents during their “Road to the White House” unit.
The students examined the impact of past presidents, learning about their accomplishments and the roles they played in shaping the nation. To bring these lessons to life, students worked collaboratively in mock presidential campaigns, taking on roles such as presidential candidates, speechwriters, policy researchers, campaign managers and commercial designers.
The project culminated in a fun and lively mock election. As a real-world extension of the unit, students were visited by Solages. Prior to the visit, the fifth graders prepared thoughtful questions to ask their guest.
During the discussion, Solages shared insights about how political campaigns work, explained the difference between a bill and a law, spoke about issues she cares about and highlighted ways young people can get involved in their community.
