Who Was? History Bee Buzzes through NSHA

By Lisa Weinstein

Director of Curriculum and Instruction

North Shore Hebrew Academy hosted its first WhoWas? History Bee this past Wednesday, coordinated by Lisa Weinstein, our new Director of Curriculum & Instruction. The WhoWas? History Bee is part of a national competition sponsored by Penguin Random House. It was the perfect challenge for our students to take on, as our 3rd grade curriculum culminates with students reading biographies and participating in the annual Wax Museum, and our 4th grade curriculum begins with students studying the biography genre. Over the past few months, students read books from the Who Was? book series, a series of biographies about different people throughout history, and the competition showed off all the incredible knowledge our students acquired. One student reported reading 65 books to prepare for the competition!

On Wednesday, January 15, 23 fourth and fifth grade students convened in the library where they answered trivia questions about the different people they read about in “bee style.” First round questions featured multiple choice questions, followed by a second round of open-ended questions. Our final third round showcased the remaining four participants and a winner emerged, receiving an engraved trophy. All participants received a Certification of Participation.

Following break, our winner will take a written exam that will be sent to the National Who Was? History Bee competition, and judges will score it. The top ten students across the country will be invited to compete at the national competition in New York City. The national winner earns a $10,000 college scholarship, and their school wins a library of WhoWas? Books.

Mazel tov to all students on making history at NSHA! We wish our winner lots of luck on the next round of this exciting competition.