Fifth grade students at Sand Springs Elementary brought American history to life by performing a patriotic assembly for family, faculty and local veterans.
The annual program, rooted in the school’s social studies curriculum, traces the history of the United States from pre-Columbian times to the present. Featuring a combination of music, skits, speeches and historical reflections, the performance aimed to deepen students’ understanding of the country’s heritage while inspiring pride and citizenship in the audience.
Students began learning the songs in August, received their performance roles before spring break, and started full rehearsals—including dances and speaking parts—in late April. Each major historical era was represented with a song and corresponding skit, and students wore era-appropriate costumes. Following district guidance, students portraying Native Americans did not wear costumes out of respect for cultural sensitivity.
One of the most emotional moments of the assembly came during the military tribute segment. Students performed the official songs of the four branches of the U.S. military and invited veterans in attendance to stand and be recognized. The crowd responded with a standing ovation.
In addition to songs and skits, the performance highlighted the students’ learning through recitations of historic texts. All students recited the preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Individual students shared excerpts from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Emma Lazarus’s “The New Colossus,” and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.”
The program also included a tribute to the Civil Rights Movement. Students presented a clip from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, followed by a musical performance and slideshow featuring King’s words and historical images from the 1960s.
The Sand Springs Elementary patriotic assembly has become an educational tradition the school is proud to uphold.
