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After studying for a month about Thanksgiving, Shalom Torah Academy in Morganville on Nov. 26 unveiled their "living timeline" to commemorate Thanksgiving and the development of America through science, math, language arts, and social studies.

Two to three students from the 6th through 8th grade were assigned a time period from the first Thanksgiving to the present, and had to dress up in costume according to their time period.

For science, the students needed to display an invention that helped in the preparation of Thanksgiving or that was first used during that time period. For math, students had to research a formula used in creating the invention and provide a biography of the mathematician. For language arts, each student had to write a biography about a famous person of that time period and explain how they affected literature today and why they are important. For social studies, the students had to explain cultural aspects of their time period.

Chana Ganzwleg, a science teacher for the middle school, said the project began Nov. 1 and she was very proud of her students.

"My success is their success," Ganzwleg said. "Our pride is from what we've seen."

She said the children did the research and the project all on their own.

"They really learned a lot," she said.

Each group of students had their invention displayed on a table, a poster board with pictures or articles about events from their period, and their essays were stapled to the display partition that encircled the room.

Three 8th-graders, Emma from Lakewood, Amy from Manalapan, and Avi from Neptune, researched the time period from 1781 to 1800.

The three students said during that time period the Americans won the Revolutionary War, George Washington was president, the first steamboat was invented, and in 1795 the invention to make food preserves was created. Also, the two girls wore big poofy dresses to resemble how women dressed during the period.

Eighth-graders Asher from Piscataway and Moshe from Lakewood researched 1861 to 1875 and said the steam tractor was a major part of that time period.

"We found out a lot about the Civil War," including the fight over slavery, the students said.

The two students said they couldn't believe that steam tractors were such a huge part of society then.

Gloria, a 6th-grader from Lakewood, researched the most current time period from 1997 to 2008. She made a rotating food hydrator, which was created in 1998, she said.

"It helps people with diabetes because it dries out all of the sugar," Gloria said.

She said during her research she learned about the war in Iraq, music, fashion, Wall Street, 9/11, and cloning.

"[The poster board] shows the twin towers, the three top movies: 'Hannah Montana' and 'High School Musical 3'," Gloria said.

She said she learned a lot about what's happened in America over the past decade.

"It's important how everything changed and improved, and just how things changed over time," Gloria said.

Sixth-graders Sam, of Morganville, and Noah, of Manalapan, researched 1901 to 1912.

They said some of the things that we are used to - like pizza, the toaster, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich - were all invented during that time period. Additionally, the two of them wore top hats and suits, which made up the typical man's outfit during that time period.

Tamema Blackstein, a language arts teacher for the middle school, said it was fascinating to watch her students work and see their essays.

"They really learned writing skills, and to watch them work together was great," Blackstein said.

She said each student had to write a paper that combined a book report, a biography, and an essay, which dealt with not only the background of the author or literary person from their time period, but how that person has affected literature today.

"Because it was inter-curricular, it was phenomenal," Blackstein said.

Sixth-grader Emma said she wrote about Mark Twain, whose books she loves.

"He was a fascinating person," she said.

Emma said she chose to write about him not just because of his great writing, but because he used to write a newspaper and was a steamboat pilot as well.

"He was able to make the books intelligent, yet humorous," she said. "In his writing he painted a picture."

Jacob, an 8th-grader from Morganville, wrote about Thomas Jefferson because he said Jefferson contributed a great deal to society.

"He wrote many books that were never published," Jacob said.

Jacob said Jefferson was the first secretary of state, wrote about his presidency, and led a very interesting life.

"He was the first person to have church and state separated," Jacob said. "If he lived today he would be considered very smart."