"The values of heroes transcend time and inspire us to attain the hero in us all."
- Dr. Tony Sanchez, University of Toledo

Today I completed my Hero Project.  It was amazing.  My 84 APUS History students partnered with fifth graders in our district to teach them what a hero means to them.  About a two weeks ago my kids picked their heroes (most of whom were out of your book) and research them and created three clues to give to their buddies.  Each student presented their clues in different and fun ways.  I delivered the clues to the 5th grade teachers and their students researched the clues to make a prediction about who their hero was.  Meanwhile my guys made a placemat, hero box, and wrote a personal letter to their buddy explaining what a hero meant to them.  Today my kids went to the elementary school and gave their buddies all the loot.  The 5th graders were so very excited - it was amazing to watch my kids be such neat role models.  The funniest part was we got T-shirts made the have "Hero, if you can't find one, BE ONE" on the back.  We brainstormed the layout of the T-shirt and one of my kiddies came up with that one.  They are great T-shirts.  We all wore them today.  I just wanted to share today's success with you - you inspired me. 

One of the teachers was crying because she was so moved by the letters my students wrote...it was truly a neat day.

-- Kathy Hagee

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