For the month of February Mrs. Payne's second grade class completed a study of notable African Americans along with a history of the Underground Railroad. Each student selected a famous person, read a biography, and wrote a first hand account of that individual's life. Everyone also created a puppet in the image of the person studied. The students designed a "Freedom Quilt" based on information read in books and on websites. This activity incorporated students' math skills as the quilt used geometrical shapes integrated into various patterns.

    As a culminating activity, the children presented their findings in the form of a puppet show which was attended by over 25 family members. Each student learned not only about the person he or she investigated but also learned about eighteen other distinguished African Americans through research done by their classmates.