(July 10) -- To the average eye, it may look like just a simple game of marbles being played by a group of school children, but for fourth grade girls and boys at Wasden elementary school, it's a lesson learned, a trip back in time.
Marbles is a game girls and boys played when this school opened it's doors. The school is 50 years old this year.
As of this year's celebration , students have been given the task of researching what their school was like back in 1953. Back then, it was called West Charleston. The school principal was Howard Wasden.
"They have learned so much. Not only about the history of their school, but about the neighborhood," said Beth Miller, teacher.
With a tape recorders and notebooks, students began interviewing former teachers, students and employees. According to Miller, students were curious to learn what a person's favorite memory was and what the lunch menu was like? They also wanted to know how students of the past dressed.
"Mostly girls wore dresses. But they were allowed to wear stockings when it got cold," said Kirstie James, student.
"Our school was built on federal funds. And we had a goat. They had a pen for it so kids could pet it," said Michael Cruz, student.
This project doesn't end with the compilation of research. Students have been awarded a grant, to publish what they've learned. All of their names will be in black and white in a book about the school's history.
"That goes beyond any test that you can give when I look at how I can measure what they learned. It's something real and in a real publication they will have when they are my age," said Miller.
In their own way, the students are becoming another page in Wasden's rich Las Vegas history. Wasden students will continue the project through next school year.
If you have something you'd like to add to the project, you can contact Miller at bethnews@juno.com.
