Red Ball Express Puts Students in the Picture

The Red Ball Express is The National WWII Museum’s mobile educational outreach program, delivering hands-on, interactive learning across the greater New Orleans region.  Last week, it was the Red Ball Express’ privilege to visit Metairie Park Country Day School and present its elementary-age program to six classes of 3rd and 4th-grade students.  In the elementary-age program entitled THE SEEDS OF VICTORY, participants learn about what students their own age were doing during the Second World War.  Activities and hands-on explorations include a scrapping magic show, a trip to the grocery store using ration points and stamps and analysis and examination of WWII propaganda posters.

The culminating activity in THE SEEDS OF VICTORY sees students working in teams to transform themselves into living propaganda posters through the use of artifact and costume pieces as their classmates attempt to decipher the meaning behind the words and images of each poster.

All Red Ball Express programs contain both pre and post-visit enrichment activities in order to extend the learning experience.  The students and teachers at Country Day took advantage of this by creating some WWII propaganda posters of their own, showing off both their artistic abilities and understanding of the lesson’s content.

The Red Ball Express rolls to schools and community groups within a 60-mile radius of New Orleans all year round.  Click here for more information on Red Ball Express programs and how to bring the Red Ball Express to your school or community group.

This post by Collin Makamson, Red Ball Express Coordinator @ The National WWII Museum

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