Goodrich- In the winter of 1607, a group of 104 English men and boys settled on the banks of the James River in Virginia. The community endured many hardships, but persevered to become America’s first English settlement’Jamestown.
Now, more than 400 years later, the reflections, thoughts and experiences of the Jamestown colony were penned by more than 60 middle school students in the Daughters of the American Revolution’s history essay contest. Each year an American history topic is chosen, about which students in grades fifth-eighth explore.
The DAR is a volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children.
‘The reason why I liked the topic so much was because the student had to write a letter like they were a settler (in Jamestown),? said Krista Bethke, an eighth-grade history teacher at the middle school. ‘The kids actually enjoyed writing it.?
Bethke said she decided to assign the essay to her students after learning English teachers in the school couldn’t fit it into their schedule because of MEAP testing. Bethke was getting ready to cover the settlers in her history class so the topic fit nicely into the curriculum. Fifty-five of her students entered the contest, and another teacher, DianneVauter, offered extra credit to her seventh grade students if they entered the contest.
For Bethke’s students, writing as though they were settlers gave them a new perspective on the life of a Jamestown colonist.
‘Life in Jamestown at the time, they didn’t have medicine, and malaria came over. It was very difficult with food? they had to get help from the Native Americans,? said Bethke. When they finished their essays, students seemed to understand the situation more deeply, Bethke said.
Students ‘enjoyed the essay because it was more of a creative writing essay’it wasn’t just ‘tell me about Jamestown,? said Bethke.
DAR member Ruth Rice said every student that participates in the contest receives a certificate acknowledging their work. Winners receive a bronze medal and an opportunity to advance to the state level of competition.
Rice said this year was the first the Genesee County chapter of DAR was able to participate in the contest, which takes place annually.
The lesson learned by the students who participated lingered long after the contest, said Bethke.
‘It was an excellent learning experience because when I went back and asked the kids, ‘What do you remember most from writing this??, they all remembered things, not just facts but the way things were,? said Bethke. ‘It had an impact, them doing this essay.?
It’s a learning experience of which Bethke recommends more teachers take advantage.
‘We’re going to do it every year now. The Daughters of the American Revolution were fabulous,? said Bethke. ‘If any teachers get the opportunity to do an essay contest for the Daughters of the American Revolution, they ought to take advantage of it because of the positive learning experience my students had.?

Eighth Grade:
First place: Loren Burr
Second Place: Kelsey Millerschin
Third Place: Taylor Born
Seventh Grade
First Place: Dalton Stodgel
Second Place: Harper Rosencrantz
Third Place: Michael Brelinski
Winners of the Daughters of the American Revolution
History Essay Contest

‘You are very lucky that you and Mother stayed in England. Father, Jonathan, and I came over with nearly fifty other settlers from the Virginia Company in ‘The Godspeed?. It was a very hard voyage. The Godspeed was tiny and the journey was nearly three months. We had little food and fresh water. It smelled terrible on the ship.? First place winner Loren Burr

‘My tasks among the settlement are to cook, clean, sew and mind the children, mine and a pleasant widow man’s child. I work most of the day doing these chores and seldom get time to rest. It tires me greatly, for I am not a peasant woman, but one of noble blood .Some women are sent out to try and gather fruit, even though none of us noble women know how to do this servant’s job.?
Second place winner, Kelsey Millerschin

‘Winter is upon us and food has run out. The temperature is so cold that I think even Jack Frost decided to stay inside! We have made contact with the Indians and they seem friendly enough. William had to trade my glass bead necklace for some deer and corn. We made it last for a week but it eventually ran out no matter how thin the stew was.?
Third place winner, Taylor Born.