LEWISTON — Lewiston Middle School eighth-graders have the game show “Jeopardy!” on their minds.
On Wednesday, 18 middle school students will play with Kelly Miyahara, a real “Jeopardy!” Clue Crew member from California, said Matt Earl of WMTW.
Local station WMTW will film students of social studies teacher Sue Reny playing with Miyahara. Lewiston native and WMTW meteorologist Matt Zidle will be there, along with a few educational leaders.
Snippets of Lewiston students competing will be used nationally to promote the “Classroom Jeopardy!” game.
“The media forms are really intense,” Reny said of the paperwork involved.
Wednesday’s visit will bring the sights and sounds of the show to one classroom in a deserving school as part of a national tour, Earl said.
“This is the first time in Maine — and the only time in Maine,” he said.
Students are getting ready, including talking in “Jeopardy!” style.
On Monday, student Emma Paquette, 14, gave Dillen Bergeron, also 14, the clue “the No. 1 killer of the Civil War.”
“What is ‘disease?’” he answered.
Bethany Dube, 14, told Jackson Castronova, 14, “This side won the Civil War.”
“What is ‘the Union?’” Castronova answered.
“We’ve been practicing answers and questions,” Reny said.
One of the categories Wednesday will be “The Civil War,” which students have been studying. Other categories will include pop culture and state trivia.
Students are excited and nervous about playing.
“It’s very educational,” said Amber Veilleux, 14, who said she’s watched the show on television with her parents. “We’re the only school in the state that’s doing this.”
“It’s pretty cool,” said Cole Pringle, 13. “We got lucky. Our teacher’s name was drawn.”
Reny explained that WMTW contacted the school about participating in a “Jeopardy!” classroom promotion.
“Our principal, Jake Langlais, introduced it at a staff meeting,” Reny said. “He said, ‘If you’re interested in having the game come to your classroom, send your name to me. I’ll put it in a hat.’”
Reny put her name in, as did other teachers. Her name was drawn.
Next was to determine which students would play. She has six classes, a total of 111 students. But only 18 could play.
She put the 111 names in a hat and drew the names of 18 students, who would be the contestants.
Students said they’ve watched the show at home.
“It’s a great show,” Castronova said. “It’s fun to learn stuff.”
When the “Jeopardy!” and WMTW celebrities leave the Lewiston Middle School Wednesday, they’ll give a copy of “Classroom Jeopardy!” to the school for use by teachers. The game sells for $500.
Students are excited and nervous about playing, but once they start Wednesday, “their competitiveness is going to come out,” Reny predicted. “Once you have the trigger in your hand and you press it, you have to be ready to answer.”
Students will compete against each other in teams of three. Unlike the show on television, they won’t win money, Reny said. “But bragging rights is very good.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
