Grant County

“Gracious Grant County” Resources

Grades 3-5

DIGGING DEEPER for high-level thinking…

SAMUEL PLATO… was one of the first successful African-American architects. One of his projects in Marion, IN is now known as “Hostess House”, but was originally a residence for J. Wood Wilson, one of Marion’s most prominent citizens. When fired from a construction job because of his race, Plato predicted: “…someday you will work for me.” Read his biographical information and note his significant contributions to the civil rights movement. What qualities and did he possess that enabled him to overcome such tremendous obstacles in his career?

http://www.csa-marion.com/pdf/gcHoosierSalon.pdf
http://www.csa-marion.com/pdf/gcSamuelPlato.pdf
http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/kentucky/louisville/plato/collegeangle.jpg (another Plato design)
http://www.officemuseum.com/1943_Office_Samuel_Plato_building_contractor_Nat_Archives.JPG

JIM DAVIS... creator of Garfield, was born in Marion, IN. His cartoon characters have become icons in the world of cartooning and animation. The world of cartooning and graphic design is a great career opportunity to explore. Do you like to draw? What kinds of animals could you create as your own comic characters?

http://www.csa-marion.com/pdf/gcJimDavis.pdf (brief biography)
http://www.garfield.com/comics/vault.html (comic site)
http://www.showmegrantcounty.com/component/option,com_rsgallery2/Itemid,134/catid,5 (trail sites)

CORE CONNECTIONS for Extended Learning…

LANGUAGE ARTS: Madelyn Davis was one of the writers on the phenomenal comedy series “I Love Lucy” and she wrote a book about her work called: Laughing with Lucy. For a woman in the mid-20th century to have such significant writing work and to maintain a home in Marion, IN was quite an accomplishment! Which types of comedy make you laugh the most: slapstick, farce or spoof? Can you think of a funny moment in your own life that could be written in script form?

http://www.csa-marion.com/pdf/gcMadelynPughDavis.pdf (brief biography)
http://www.shemadeit.org/meet/summary.aspx?m=94 (women writers)
http://akas.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1340670233 (brief Lucy clips... fun!)

SOCIAL STUDIES: Frances Slocum was kidnapped at the age of 5 years, and raised by a Native American tribe. Read the information aloud, and discuss how it might have felt to be separated from your family. How does culture affect us as we grow up?

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~scwhite/slocum/frances.html (biography)
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~scwhite/slocum/frances2.html

SCIENCE: The wave pool at Splash House water park in Marion can help us learn about the energy of wave motion while having a blast! Check out this information on waves and the way these pools work. Can you create a small wave in your classroom or at home?

http://www.marionindiana.us/parksSplashHouseFeatures.cfm (homepage)
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/wave-pool2.htm (wave pool information)
http://science.howstuffworks.com/wave-energy.htm (wave energy)
http://science.howstuffworks.com/wave-energy1.htm

MATHEMATICS: Make a garden using cross-lined paper (1”x1”). The scale for your garden will be: 1 inch square = 1 square foot. Make a key that shows your favorite flowers and see how you think it might be best arranged. If you plant a 6’ x 8’ garden, how many plants can you raise if they each need 3 square feet to grow?

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