Students in Advanced Placement United States History were responsible during for locating, researching and presenting (play and/or perform and discuss) to the class one selection of American music of historical significance. Scoring for the assignment was as follows:
 

+ 50 points just for doing it
+ 10 points for preparing a hand-out with some background information on the piece including your rationale for choosing it and its historic significance
+ 5 points for including lyrics and/or the music on the hand-out
+ 5 points for an appropriate graphic image included on the hand-out
+ 10 points for performing the piece
+ 10 points for performing the piece in period costume or with authentic props
+ 10 points for doing a piece for a unit from before the period of the American Civil War
+ up to 10 more points for how much Mr. Peterson and the class were impressed by the presentation (a group decision)

Some of the students  dressed up. (l-r Scott Drew, Allyson Shortle, Carrie Stanziola, Liz Lathey, Justin Brown, Andrea Doenges, Robin Harrison, Charles Romeo.)
 

It don't mean a thing, if it aint got that swing! Andrea Doenges included a little Charleston step with her swing dance presentation.
 

Charles Romeo did a sentimental Irish ballad from the Civil War era, Kathleen, Mavourneen.

Carrie Stanziola gave us a muted rendition of Stephen Foster's O! Susannah!
 
 

Justin Brown as a Confederate soldier sang All Quiet on the Potomac, Tonight.

Liz Lathey took a break from her usual Phish tunes to play a Revolutionary War parody of On the Banks of the Dee

Robin Harrison, who claims she "has not played the piano in years," treated the class to Cruel Katie, a colonial period ballad.
 

Scott Drew as Stephen Foster did Camptown Races.
 

Also presenting pieces were Allyson Shortle - Follow the Drinking Gourd, Stephen (Big Daddy Mustafa) Langlois - some pieces by Jelly Roll Morton, and Robby Wetzler who presented Free My Lord, Free At Las.