McAuliffe Elementary students journeyed back in time as they walked to Marcus High School on November 19. Chris Porter’s AP US History class was assigned an unusual project: teaching fifth graders about some of the key parts of the American Revolution.

        McAuliffe students went from display to display, including ones where students threw tea bags into the “sea” (a bucket full of water), and a tar and feathering station. Whether they were watching a presentation, or taking notes on their clipboards, all eyes were on the Marcus students. Junior Jose Montemayor said the kids were just like high school students.

        “They are like any high school group of students,” Montemayor said. “There were the smart kids, the talkative kids, the shy kids. It was fun interacting with them.”

       Some of the topics covered included conflict between America and France, the separation of territory, acts of British aggression. McAuliffe students were charged with answering the 5 W’s and the H (who, what, when, where, why and how) about each topic.

       “It was very simple because we already knew the topics,” Montemayor said. “All we had to do was be creative in the way we taught the kids.”

The projects were graded on creativity, their content and the success of their instruction.

        “I wanted my students to be able to create a product that helped teach someone else what we’re talking about,” Mr. Porter said. “The best way to learn something is to teach it.”

        The living museum was held after US History students had finished their unit, and just as the fifth graders were beginning theirs.

        Principals, district officials and other teachers were also among the attendees, watching as students transformed into creative teachers.