At St. Louis High School “we’re all a little mad here,” but one class took that saying to the next step. At the beginning of March, Mr. Miller’s fourth hour, consisted of juniors and seniors, started a new unit reading Alice in Wonderland, but why that story? This story is a lot about growing up and facing challenges of the real world which is a great way to get students ready for what’s to come after graduation. Last week the class threw a giant tea party as a way to end the unit.
Miller started, “I have the reputation for being a grumpy teacher, so I’m always looking for ways to lighten the mood in class. More importantly, I wanted at least one of the Alice In Wonderland lessons to be truly memorable for my students. I’ll admit, I was a little worried students might find the party ‘mid’, but most students seemed to embrace it. But the tea party was a wonderful way to bring the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party chapter to life for our class.”
Miller added, “Several students mentioned that the event made the chapter feel more real, giving them a tangible experience rather than having to only imagine the tea party while reading, especially when most modern people have never attended such a party. Overall, I think everyone enjoyed the experience, and it was a great success, partly due to the students who brought decor and treats and dressed up. I’d love to continue the Mad Hatter tea party with every junior/senior English, every other year.”
The tea party was a big hit but not just for the class. Students created invitations to send out to a few of the staff to come and enjoy the experience with them while listening to a chapter while enjoying their tea and treats. Senior Devanz Svelti-Cruz said, “I think it was good to end it at a tea party because it was fun. It was a switch from how we normally end a unit though I was slightly disappointed there was no lemonade. During the party, I was trying to impersonate the dormouse by putting my head down for a little snooze but still answered questions, but unfortunately, it was hard to keep my eyes open without actually dozing off. Overall, I really enjoyed engaging with others and the teachers.”
