Viva Cuba members took the fourth graders on their annual mural tour.
One of Viva Cuba‘s objectives with the mural project is that the murals are used to teach Cuba’s young people local, Missouri, and national history. We like to say that every mural has a story, and we like to tell those stories to Cuba’s kids. We provide 4th grade students with a mural curriculum on each of the murals along with a little information on the general history of Cuba, Route 66, the railroad, and other pertinent topics.
The fourth graders study the mural curriculum and Missouri history during Missouri History Month in May. They always ask us to give a mural tour for the students, and we are glad to do it. We board their school bus and give two tours to accommodate all the fourth graders. We always ask questions and are happy to see arms waving in the air with answers. The students, their teachers, and their parents should be congratulated on the students’ knowledge. We know it takes a combined effort to teach history. As part of their Missouri History Month the students also build exhibits of local and state historical importance. Since you weren’t lucky enough to share this experience with us, we would like to show a few of the exhibits and scenes from our tour.
Rows of fourth graders gave their attention to Viva Cuba member Jill Barnett. Dale Grubaugh, a former Cuba student himself, drove the bus.
As the group drives the streets of Cuba, Viva Cuba members stress the importance of the railroad and Route 66 to the development of Cuba.
The story of outlaw Jesse James and his connection to Meramec Caverns is a popular story.
Students use the murals as a focus for their exhibits. This is the Amelia Earhart mural. This year, Viva Cuba member Jill Barnett dressed like Amelia Earhart to give her 1st person version of her life.
Stan Musial is an important part of Missouri’s sports history.
Students visit the World’s Largest Rocking Chair to get information about our famous rocker. Some have even run in Cuba’s 4-mile Route 66 Race to the Rocker held in the early spring.
Teachers say that students are fascinated by the rocking chair. Steamboats and log cabins played their parts in Missouri history too.
Onondaga Cave, a local attraction with geological importance, isn’t overlooked.
There were many log cabins showing the days of the early settlers–and their animals.
Logging in Missouri and Crawford County has always been and still is important to the local economy. A trip by McGinnis Wood Products shows reserves of Missouri white oat to be made into barrels for shipment all over the world.
A knowledge of Missouri snakes is a useful piece of information.
And with Meramec Springs so close, let’s not forget the trout parks.
By now you should have the idea that Cuba fourth graders are hands-on and knee-deep in local history. Another important aspect of their Missouri History is ex-fourth grader Chip Lange’s presentation on the Civil War in Missouri as it is shown in the Cuba, MO murals. This year Chip was only able to talk to one of the fourth grade classes as there were scheduling conflicts during his brief time at home. A college graduate, he is now attending Physicians Assistant school in Toledo, Ohio. Check out this brief blog to see photos of Chip with the fourth graders during last year’s presentation and get a snippet of his connection with the Civil War and Cuba’s murals.
So if someone asks you if you are smarter than one of Cuba’s fourth graders, you might say “probably not.”
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