Today 2nd and 5th grade elementary students fromMartin Luther King Jr Elementary School, Roger B Chaffee Elementary School, Monte Sano Elementary School, & Academy For Science & Foreign Language came together to kick off the Super Citizen Program for 2024. They waved flags, wore Statue of Liberty crowns and counted down for Libby Liberty™ to take the stage. On three huge screens “live video” shows her Next Great Americans tour pulling up to the school and then the real-life Libby walked out from behind the screens!
The lady in green brought history to life and introduced students to the 10-week civic, character, financial literacy and social studies program they will begin when her tour rolls away. She told them that they already have the most important title in the world: “CITIZEN.”
Students in multiple grades are participating in the Super Citizen Program. The younger grades are taught by an innovative civic education program starring Mr. Palmer (the hand-puppet host of the “Hands on Liberty” DVD series). Upper elementary grades learn from the original Super Citizen Program kit that features DVD-based lessons, class activities and the emotional, unforgettable “Torch Teams” project-based learning experience. In Torch Teams, students team up, nominate, vote for and, ultimately, honor local heroes from stage at their graduation later this year. They learn that “When you honor a hero, you become a hero.”
Today’s event and the injection of civic learning is free to schools because of generous community sponsors who understand that these crucial lessons must be taught despite school time and budget constraints.
Were you at the event? See the photo gallery below to find yourself, to revisit the magic or watch it unfold for the first time >
- A’Rienna, Adam, & Annie lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Libby Liberty™ makes her entrance to reveal her true name: “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
- Libby’s mouth is 3 feet long, about the length of an electric guitar!
- Super Citizens help Libby show off her real measurements.
- Libby reveals her 879 inch shoe size.
- Libby’s outer layer is only about as thick as 2 pennies!
- Her torch is what lights the way to freedom.
- The letters on her tablet represent the date of American Independence!
- Mr. Eiffel designed her skeleton!
- Imagine what it would be like to see the Statue of Liberty for the first time.
- Ellis Island is right next to Liberty Island, which is where Libby lives.
- “We may have all come on different ships, but we are in the same boat now.” – MLK Jr.
- We all share in the same bright future that is possible because of the ideals for which Libby stands.
- Libby shares the iconic poem “The New Colossus.”
- We all hold the most important title!
- Libby and Mr. Palmer are excited to share with the students about the Hands on Liberty program!
- Thank you to our amazing sponsors!!
- Super Citizens help Libby lead everyone in our tour anthem.
- U.S.A.!
- Waving their flags in song and celebration!
- We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- These students are excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- Libby loves seeing the students excited to sing her tour anthem!
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- Singing loud and proud!
- So excited to sing our tour anthem!
- The Official Libby Liberty™ Selfie!