The following article was developed and submitted by Bethany Shepherd and other faculty members at Millennium Charter Academy, and was originally written for publication in a local newspaper.

No ghosts or goblins here!

The fifth grade classes at Millennium Charter Academy were in costume on October 31 , but it was not the typical fare for the season. Blatantly absent were Frankenstein, witches , and ghouls. Students in Ms. Loftin and Mrs. Shepherd’s classes spent the day personifying famous figures from the halls of history. The classroom was packed with the likes of standards such as Abraham Lincoln, Chief Joseph and Mark Twain. Add to that the extraordinary personalities of Queen Elizabeth, William Shakespeare, Michelangelo, and Percy Lavon Julian. Although some of these less familiar figures seem out of the norm for fifth grade studies, it is common place within the Core Knowledge Curriculum. Students researched famous figures from all discipline areas, wrote research papers and prepared oral presentations. After presenting to their classmates, the fifth graders embodied a “ Living Museum” hosting all third and fourth grade students from the school. Younger children were invited to walk amongst the notable historians and interact with them as fifth graders presented the accolades of each figure.

This type of introduction to seemingly advanced subject content is at the backbone of the Core Knowledge Curriculum. First graders are introduced to the Mayas and Incas, Third Graders study the fall of the Roman Empire and Kindergarteners learn the seven continents. The Core Knowledge Curriculum was developed by Dr. E.D. Hirsch to “begin building solid foundations of knowledge in the early grades when children are most receptive.” Dr. Hirsch found that “for the vast majority of children, academic deficiencies from the first six grades permanently impair the success of later learning.” The Core Knowledge Curriculum was created to “attempt to define, in a coherent and sequential way a body of widely used knowledge…”. This base of knowledge forms a necessary foundation that people need to be successful in their chosen vocation and our society.

Millennium Charter Academy utilizes the Core Knowledge Curriculum in addition to the NC Standard Course of Study. Core Knowledge also places a heavy emphasis on the fine arts. MCA is a National Core Knowledge Visitation Site and is located at 500 Old Springs Road in Mt. Airy, NC. Call 789-7570 for more information or to speak with Kim Sawyers, Core Knowledge Consultant.

	Mrs. Sandy Cave chats with Spanish conqueror Hernando Cortez (Samantha Tickles.)
	Third graders listen to Daniel Boone (Matthew Vaught) describe his adventures.
	Director Kirby McCrary interviews Queen Elizabeth ! (Jane Manfredi).
	From L to R: Austin Handy as Mark Twain; Matthew Vaught as Daniel Boone; Jack Welch as Chief Joseph
	From L to R: Bessie Woltz as Abraham Lincoln; Leanna Beverly as William Shakespeare; Kaylyn Vaughn as Leonardo da Vinci
	Back: Julius Coram as Peter the Great; Front: Jane Manfredi as Queen Elizabeth; Jordan Jackson as Henry VII
	From L to R: Daniel Rogers as Lewis & Clark; Andi Ruth Moore as Sacajawea; Dylan Faw as Michelangelo
	From L to R: Rigo Vernon as Carolus Linnaeus; Sam Harris as King Charles I; Ashley Martin as Ludwig van Beethoven
	From L to R: Samantha Tickles as Hernando Cortes; Abigail McHone as Catherine the Great; Aaron Bowman as Percy Lavon Julian
	From L to R: Caleb Hiner as Mussorgsky; Jeff Bishop as Gutenberg; Duncan Kinder as Galileo
	From L to R: Nicholas Cooke as Zebulon Pike; Tre Vaughn as Frederick Douglass; Corbyn Clawson as Ernest Just
	From L to R: Tanner Hartley as Felix Mendelssohn; Ryan Worth as William Shakespeare