Students have been diving into an important period of Kansas history, learning about the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Missouri Compromise, and the violent and divisive era known as “Bleeding Kansas.” They also explored the Bogus Legislature and examined the four different state constitutions that were drafted during this time. Ultimately, students learned how the Wyandotte Constitution was approved at both the state and congressional levels and signed by President James Buchanan, allowing Kansas to enter the Union as a Free State and the 34th state on January 29, 1861.
Seventh-grade students discovered that much of Kansas’s history during the 1854–1861 period played a significant role in deepening the divisions that eventually led to the American Civil War.
In addition to their Kansas history lessons, students took a brief look at topics connected to the Civil War while creating their Christmas tree projects. They learned about Thomas Nast and how his illustrations helped shape the modern image of Santa Claus, why Harper’s Weekly magazine was created during the Civil War, how Christmas became a national holiday, and the life and historical impact of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, including his poem “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”
Students have also been reading the historical fiction novel Jayhawker by Patricia Beatty, which has helped bring this turbulent period of Kansas history to life and deepen their understanding of the events they’ve studied.
During the past two full days of Kansas History, students watched the movie I Heard the Bells, which tells the story of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the lasting impact of his poem, written on Christmas Day in 1863. Since then, the poem has been set to music by hundreds of musicians and continues to resonate today.
A special thank-you to Mrs. Koch (RVMS Librarian) for allowing students’ Christmas tree projects to be displayed in the Middle School Library throughout the month of December!
