5th Grade Revolutionary Speeches and Cardboard Heroes

History, but Hand-Painted

The 5th grade revolutionary speeches were once again a highlight of the elementary experience at SAA for 2025. There’s something wonderfully odd about walking into a room full of ten-year-olds pretending to be long-dead patriots. But that’s exactly what you’d find in the MPR this week during our annual American Revolution Character Project. This project is part research, part performance, and part cardboard engineering. And somehow, our 5th graders make it all work—with paint on their hands, speeches in their heads, and a surprising amount of confidence behind those giant painted trifolds.

Key Takeaways

What It Is	American Revolution Character Project
What Students Do	Research, write, memorize, paint, and perform—in costume (sort of)
How They Present	Through a trifold of their character, with cutouts for face and hands
Who Watched	Families, classmates, teachers, and a few sneaky staff drop-ins
Skills Gained	Public speaking, historical insight, creative expression, grit
What We Noticed	Humor, pride, unexpected historical hot takes

Research, Paint, Performance

The American Revolution Character Project starts with each student choosing a figure from the Revolutionary era—Abigail Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, even the lesser-known-but-still-worthy ones. Then comes the deep dive: What did this person stand for? What was their role in shaping the country? And—most importantly—how do you say it in a way that sounds like them? Students wrote first-person speeches, memorized every word, and then climbed into character. Literally. Each 5th grade student stood behind a life-sized painted trifold of their person, complete with holes for their face and hands, so they could give their speeches as their chosen revolutionary icon.

“It Was a Lot of Research. And Buttons.”

There were speeches full of passion. Some were serious. Some had jokes. A few included odd but charming facts (“My favorite child was Princess Amelia”). One student proudly shared, “I invented swim fins for my hands when I was eleven.” Thank you, Benjamin Franklin. And the prep? Let’s just say it was not a small lift. “It took a lot of research. A lot of buttons. And I was really tired,” one student said. What makes this project special is how much ownership students take. They’re not just reporting facts. They’re becoming the story—putting in the time, the paint, and the nerves it takes to stand up and speak in front of a crowd.

Why We’re Proud

We say it often, but this project really brings our school values to life. Students thought critically, demonstrated grit, and embraced what it means to be an active, engaged learner. And public speaking? That takes courage. Especially when you’re doing it while peeking through a cardboard costume you painted yourself. Was it perfect? Of course not. That’s what made it great. This wasn’t just about history—it was about growth, effort, and the joy of sharing something meaningful with a community that cheers you on.