Literacy Night at Freedom Elementary

February 13 was “Literacy Night” at Freedom Elementary School in Colorado Springs.

For fourth graders at the new elementary school, it was culmination of their study of Colorado history characters.

For Filter Press, it was a chance to see up close the way our Now You Know Bio series can be put to use in the classroom.

Filter Press authors John Stansfield (Enos Mills: Rocky Mountain Naturalist) and Emerita Romero-Anderson (Jose Dario Gallegos: Merchant of the Santa Fe Trail) made presentation to Freedom students and parents.

John Stansfield showed his skill as storyteller in appearing as Enos Mills himself Emerita Romero-Anderson used the story of her ancestor Jose Dario Gallegos to give the young scholars an understanding of the historical and cultural background of Colorado’s San Luis Valley.

As you see in the pictures, many of the students appeared in character to share insights about characters from Colorado’s history such as educator Emily Griffith, Denver physician Dr Justina Ford, first lady Dottie Lamm, explorer John Wesley Powell, and Mrs. J.J. ‘unsinkable Molly’ Brown.

Molly Brown is in the top photograph followed by Jose Dario Gallegos (with autor Emerita), Dottie Lamm, Emily Griffith, and John Wesley Powell.

It was a fun - and educational - evening, and we are looking forward to the next year’s Literacy Night at Freedom.