In the early fall, our fourth grade teachers applied for the Ford's Theatre Abraham Lincoln Oratory Residency. Once again, our classes were accepted. Each class chose a historical speech to dramatize with individual and group speaking parts.

The Speeches

Ms. Choi's class chose a speech that Chief Powhatan made to Captain John Smith. During a tense meeting in early 1609, Chief Powhatan urged Captain John Smith and the Jamestown settlers to seek peace and trade fairly instead of resorting to violence. His speech was a plea for cooperation, aiming to prevent conflict and build a mutually beneficial relationship between the Powhatan people and the English.

Ms. Harlee's class chose Abraham Lincoln's "House Divided" speech. In it, Lincoln warned that slavery threatened to tear the nation apart, declaring, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Though he lost the Senate race to Stephen Douglas, the speech gained him national recognition, paving the way for his presidency two years later.

Ms. Maas's class chose Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural speech. As the nation stood on the brink of civil war, President Lincoln used his first inaugural address to call for unity, declaring, “We are not enemies, but friends.” Though conflict soon erupted, his presidency remained guided by the hope of reuniting the country.

Ms. Mostoller's class chose the Gettysburg Address. In just 272 words, President Lincoln called for unity and a renewed commitment to preserving the nation. Though he thought it was unremarkable, history now considers it one of America’s greatest speeches.

Mrs. Duffield's class chose Abraham Lincoln's "Thanksgiving Proclamation." After the Battle of Gettysburg, this marked the beginning of the national holiday. Inspired by writer Sarah Josepha Hale’s decades-long campaign, Lincoln saw Thanksgiving as a way to unite a divided nation.

Mr. Baker's class chose Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address. In this speech, President Lincoln called for healing and unity as the Civil War neared its end, urging the nation “to bind up the Nation’s wounds.” Historians consider this one of his greatest speeches, now etched on the Lincoln Memorial as a lasting reminder of his vision for reconciliation.

The Process

Starting in November, teaching artists Max Johnson & ChelseaDee Harrison worked with our students on their speaking skills over five visits to Haycock. They focused on:

• pace
• emphasis
• diction
• tone
• volume
• body language

This coaching and practice culminated with their trip to Ford's Theatre on Tuesday, February 4th. Our students knew their parts well and showed how much they'd grown together as oral communicators. These skills will serve them well in the future!

Reflecting on the Process

Afterward, students were all smiles when they got back to school. Their hard work had paid off. When asked to reflect on the experience, Matteo from Ms. Mostoller’s class said, “"I'm most proud of my class. We all worked hard together."

When asked about the hardest part of this big undertaking, Jack from Mrs. Duffield’s class said, “I was afraid that speaking in front of the audience was going to be hard, but I was proud of how well we did."

Maya from Ms. Harllee’s class added, "Even though it was a bit stressful, I'm proud that we nailed it!"

Nico from Mrs. Duffield’s class thought long-term, "In the future, I'll be able to speak in front of large crowds and give people my ideas." Considering the impact we’ve seen with last year’s participants, we wholeheartedly agree!