The fourth-grade students at Banks and Goshen elementary schools have been saying “Yea, Alabama,” but it had nothing to do with the Crimson Tide National Champions.

Rather, it had to do with their great appreciation for the state in which they live.

Brandi DeSandro, Pike County Indian Education teacher, seized the opportunity to enhance the unit on Alabama history through participation in the My Alabama History Scrapbook project.

The Alabama Scrapbook project correlated with the Alabama history core curriculum and was administered through the Indian Education program.

“The project was an opportunity for the students to learn through hands-on experience and outdoor filed trips,” DeSandro said. “Instead of just learning about the state bird and the state flag, they learned about the people and places that are of particular importance to all of us.”

The students received an outline of the items that should be included in the Alabama History Scrapbook.

“They could earn a possible100 points and the students with the most points were winners in the Alabama History Scrapbook competition,” DeSandro said. “They received bonus points for neatness, organization and for extra materials included.

“The scrapbook was an opportunity for the students to work with their parents on collecting the materials,” DeSandro said. “It was also an encouragement for families to visit places of historic significance to our state.”

Through the Alabama History Scrapbook project, the students learned about the Native American tribes that inhabited the state and about a specific Indian chief. They also received points for pictures of tribe members and artifacts.

“They learned about the pioneers – where they lived, how they traveled, what they ate and their social life,” DeSandro said.

Much space in the scrapbooks was devoted to the state symbols and state government, including past governors. The students were also required to include Alabama public officials including those on the local level.

“In fourth-grade, we take a field trip to visit the capitol in Montgomery,” DeSandro said. “So the students were to include a paragraph about the Capital City in their scrapbooks and a picture of the Alabama State Capitol and other state buildings.”

Also included in the scrapbooks were the listing of five major cities and their importance and information about three famous Alabamians.

Suggested optional information were maps, fact sheets, cities, major industries, schools and colleges and universities.

The winners of the Banks school competition were Trevor Hueston and Belle Bullard, first place; Joshlyn Johnson, second place; Emma Earles, third place; and Caitlyn Calhoun and Carsyn Smith, fourth place. Anthony Carter received the Judge’s Choice Award.

The winners of the Goshen competition were Jolea Shaver and Bella Paramore, first place; Avery Henderson, second place; Isaiah Smith and Johnny Corley, third place; Bailey Freeman and Grace Qualls, fourth place; and Madison Wilson and Tyler Lee, Judge’s Choice.