Memorandum- Essay Competition
MEMORANDUM
TO: Fifth Grade Faculty
FROM: Meg
Sharp Walton, Executive Director
RE: 2025 Essay Contest
DATE: October 28, 2024
Considering
the number of required topics in the Social Studies curricula over the span of
primary and secondary education, how often will a student get an opportunity to
reflect on their own environment? The Historical Commission presents Fifth
Graders with an opportunity to visit a Monmouth County historic site and write
about their experience visiting one or, alternatively, to compose a short essay
about a family ancestor’s life. We hope you choose our Essay Contest as a class
project.
There
are many historic sites locally in the County and New Jersey in general. Not
only the more well-known, such as Sandy Hook, Twin Lights, Monmouth
Battlefield, and Longstreet Farm, but lesser-known places in your towns or even
neighborhoods. Examples include churches and cemeteries, old mills, or a
historic home related to a notable person? The “hidden” historic site could be
a place that many do not know about but represents a significant historic
event. The optional family history topic is popular. Students often write very
moving accounts about their own families’ experiences.
Students
should be creative since originality counts. The assignment should be
informative as well as fun. We hope this assignment helps stimulate your
students’ interest in history. Please feel free to contact me at Margaret.SharpWalton@co.monmouth.nj.us
should you have any questions about this Contest.
Thank
you for your interest.