Hosanna Christian teaches with projects

Paige Richmond

of the Gateway

Along with his fellow middle school classmates at Hosanna Christian School in Gig Harbor, William Weron recently was given a unique history assignment.

In the course of a month, he built a scale model of a famous Civil War battle and wrote a report on the battle’s impact.

Weron used pieces from board games, like Monopoly and Risk, to build the forts and towns surrounding the battle of Antietam, which he said was “the bloodiest single battle in U.S. military history.”

Using dental floss, he sliced green floral foam into pieces and built grassy terrain. His dad even helped him sand the foam into hilly shapes.

Weron and his fellow students’ projects are currently on display at the Peninsula branch of the Pierce County Library System.

Looking back on the project, Weron, a seventh-grader, said it took hard work to complete, but he’s never enjoyed an assignment more.

“I think this will be better than anything else we will ever do,” he said.

When the school year began, Weron’s teacher wasn’t sure if a project like this was possible, since only four students were enrolled in seventh and eighth grades combined at HCS. It’s the smallest class Jennifer Stelle has seen since she started teaching there eight years ago — and all the students are boys.

Stelle estimates fewer families are willing to drive from Tacoma because of tolls on the Narrows bridge, which affects enrollment. Last year’s larger eighth-grade class also is a factor: Fifteen students graduated, diminishing this year’s class size.

But Stelle thinks the smaller class has been “a blessing,” because she has been able to tackle different aspects of history. For example, her four students have been more interested in learning about the weapons and the military tactics of the Civil War than other topics.

“These guys have taught me so much,” she said. “They came in with so much enthusiasm.”

Jacob Liwag, one of three seventh-graders at HCS, said a smaller class has benefits for students, too.

“You get a lot of attention,” he said. “And you get to concentrate.”

That’s especially true for Jonathan Pfefferle, the school’s only eighth-grader. He chose the Battle of Gettysburg for his scale model, and he used pieces of balsa wood, foam paint and putty.

He also said it was his favorite assignment in Stelle’s class, even though it’s not the last project Pfefferle will undertake this year.

Soon, all four students will re-create their favorite invention from the Industrial Revolution.

Stelle said these projects allow ideas to “come alive” in students’ minds.

“I feel like (projects) level the playing field,” she said. “I like using different ways for kids to show that they are learning.”

Open house at Hosanna

Hosanna Christian School, which offers preschool through eighth-grade classes, will hold an open house from 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 19. The campus is located at 3114 45th St. Court NW in Gig Harbor.

Call 253-851-8952 or visit www.hosannachristianschool.org for more information.