WMS 'HAL' students visit two local museums
Students embrace opportunity to enhance knowledge of African American contributions to WWII
Launch the media gallery 1 playerWahoo Middle School HAL (High Ability Learners) students recently completed a learning unit about African American contributions to WWII by traveling to the Strategic Air and Space Museum (SAC) in Ashland, and the Great Plains Black History Museum in Omaha.
At SAC, the students viewed the artwork of four Nebraska painters who captured the sights and sounds of WWII on canvas. Mike Hagel, brother of U. S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, was one of the artists.
The contributions to the war efforts by groups like the Tuskegee Airmen were highlighted. A quick trip into Omaha's Crossroads Mall afforded the group the chance to interact with an exhibit with more of a local flavor. Terri Sanders shared with the students African American stories and artifacts that connected Omaha and Nebraska to WWII, as well as events that impacted the development of Nebraska as a state.
7th grader Nick Fuller learned more about WWII by viewing the paintings. "They captured the feelings and experiences through the eyes of the veterans better than a book could," Fuller commented.
8th grader Mattie Pfeiffer said she was intrigued by the exhibit at the GPBHM. "The pictures and stories made me understand that African Americans contributed more to the life and events in the Great Plains than I ever realized," she stated.
WMS HAL students pose at the the Great Plains Black History Museum in Omaha.