Fourth-graders at Landing Elementary School in Glen Cove heard a firsthand account of the Great Depression and World War II, a period they have been studying as part of their social studies curriculum, from Valentino Accocella on May 21, bringing an long ago era to life. Accocella, the great-grandfather of fourth-grader Skylar Brennan, told the students what it was like to live in the 1930’s and 1940’s, discussing his time in the military during World War II.
The fourth-graders in Allison Hernandez and Maria DePace’s classes were able to ask Accocella questions they prepared prior to the visit. These questions enabled the students to delve deeper into his life and immerse themselves in an important time in history. Accocella also brought in awards he received and newspaper articles from the time to better illustrate what it was like to live in that era.
“In social studies, we have been learning about World War II and the Great Depression and it was a great opportunity to have Mr. Accocella, one of our student’s great-grandfathers, come in and give a firsthand account of his life story,” Hernandez said.
