Sinagua Middle School stages science fair for history
Using the modern magic of iMovie, Willow Armfield reached well into the last century.
Rather than make a poster or write a paper for Sinagua Middle School's schoolwide National History Day, the young photographer put her interest in the Polaroid camera into motion with a short documentary on the development of the instant camera.
It was the only movie among hundreds of entries, and it didn't come easily, but Willow wanted the challenge. She put 40 hours of work into the film, which she showed among other history projects Tuesday in the school gym.
Though the Polaroid's heyday was long before Willow's time, she appreciates the iconic camera.
"I learned that the way that they are built is still integrated into today's cameras," she said.
National History Day is a national celebration of history in schools -- something like a science fair but for social studies, showcasing textbook-worthy happenings from technological advances and major events to notable personalities or era-defining political movements and wars.