On March 27, 2025, the Fair Grove third grade Elementary students presented a famous Missourian that they learned, studied, and re-enacted during the Impactful Missourians project.
Third grade elementary teacher Shiawa Page, explained exactly what this project was. “Impactful Missourians is a social studies project that students complete over several weeks of research. Students start by identifying a Missourian who has made a positive impact on society.” Page continued, “They will learn all about their person and complete a culminating project that they will present to the school and community.”
Each year that this comes around, the students and staff get very excited about this project. One of Fair Grove’s first grade teachers, Leah Masters, thoroughly enjoys this project. She said that every two years this is one of the main things she looks forward to, and it is something that she really enjoys seeing the students learn about.
Since this project has such an impact on students and faculty members, there have been many memorable moments that the faculty has kept.
Masters also has a special memory from the Impactful Missourians. She exclaimed, “The students who go all out and dress up, and have their lines memorized or scripted out on paper just show the work and effort they have put into it and the dedication they had to the project.”
Students from Page’s class were eager to talk about their projects. Cannon Ebbrect (3) participated in the Impactful Missourians Project. During this project, Ebbrect studied and presented Walt Disney. He said that he had enjoyed everything about this project and that there was nothing he would change about it.
Another student from Pages class, Aliya Twaddle (3), was very excited and was also in the Impactful Missourians project. During this project, Twaddle said that she learned and presented about George Caleb Bingham. One thing she said that she enjoyed and learned about George Bingham was, “I enjoyed that I got to learn that he was married six times!” George Caleb Bingham is known as, ‘Missouri’s Artist.’ and Walt Disney is from Marceline, Missouri.
Though this project has been happening for years now, the impact and the learning still continues. Upcoming students look forward to the project while teachers and faculty members look forward to this project each year.
