Every year, fourth-graders at Bi-Cultural Day School in Stamford engage in a major research-based biography unit focusing on an historical person who has changed the scope of America in significant ways.

“I work with the kids for weeks, highlighting interesting and important and diverse people in American history – everyone from Alexander Hamilton to Bessie Coleman,” says BCDS Librarian Dora Salm, who directs students in the “Living History Project,” the point of which is to demonstrate to students how fascinating and exciting learning about history can be.

Work begins with a class visit to the school library, where each student selects a biography of a major figure in American history.

“I have collected and curated a number of titles at fourth-grade interest level and arrange the library by historical periods to make it look like their browsing in a bookstore,” explains Salm, who adds an element of fun – and motivation – by dressing up as an historical figure and presenting, in character, a short monologue to the class.

“This year, I choose Eliza Hamilton,” says Salm, who crafted her costume by hand after researching what upper class colonial women of that era wore and how they looked.

Why Eliza? Sure, Salm was inspired by the hit Broadway show, “Hamilton,” which she had seen. But more than that, she notes, “Women are often overlooked in history, but women have made significant contributions.”

CAP: BCDS 4th-graders kick off their “Living History Project” with a visit to the school library, where they met Eliza Hamilton (aka BCDS Librarian Dora Salm.)