This week's CBS47 Cool School is in Madera, but it's more than 100 years in the past. James Monroe Elementary in Madera may be the only in California that has a Children's Museum right on the campus.
It looks more than a small old west town than a school but it's definitely used for teaching and everyone gets involved. The students dress up in period costumes and teach visitors about California's history.
Students at Monroe Elementary look forward to the 6th grade, because that's when they're allowed to take part in all the children's museum activities.
Just as pioneer kids did back in the late 1800's, these young people learn to make little dolls out of corn husks, pan for gold, pound on pieces of leather to customize name tags, and even how rope was made back then.
Ed Gortney is the man who created the children's museum 15 years ago and has been watching it grow ever since. It's a labor of love for Gortney. Every week, he looks forward to teaching California history to visiting students, who come to this unique museum from all over California.
Congratulations to all the students and teachers at Monroe Elementary, for finding this very creative way way to keep California history alive.
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