Perrysburg students win ‘Star Wars’ project
Written by Betsy Woodruff | | bwoodruff@toledofreepress.comDarth Vader is going to visit Woodland Elementary School in Perrysburg thanks to the hard work and tech savvy of 28 fifth grade students.
Jason Hubbard and Marcia Myers joined the forces of their classes and encouraged the students to compete in a nationwide contest sponsored by Oliver and Andy’s Book Company that challenged students to create a planet where Darth Vader could go for vacation.
The students designed a website for the planet (http://faculty.perrysburgschools.net/darth) and named it “Emosewa,” which is “awesome” spelled backward. The planet features an upside-down mountain range, a crystal forest, floating oceans, a medical center, and a time travel option so Darth Vader could go back and right his wrongs.
The students worked on the project for about an hour and a half a week from January to March.
“We had some work sessions that were tough, but I think the momentum carried them through three months of really hard work,” Hubbard said.
Myers said she was proud of the students’ perseverance.
“At some point, we thought, maybe they’re going to start dragging, but they really didn’t,” she said.
To build the website, the students learned about how to use a variety of programs, including PowerPoint, iMovie, iPhoto, and iWeb.
Hubbard said the book company told him the students’ submission was the best it received in any contest.
The students look forward to a visit from the Sith Lord himself on June 1. The company will sponsor a pizza party for them to have with him, and the students will dress in “Star Wars” costumes.
“We’re going to give him a regular ol’ ‘Star Wars’ welcome when he comes,” Hubbard said.
The two students who did the main web design work are considering starting their own web design business.
Tags: Darth Vader, iMovie, iPhoto, iWeb, Perrysburg, Star Wars
