Third-graders at Shelter Rock Elementary School in the Manhasset School District transformed into famous individuals as they presented information about historical figures during the school’s wax museum on Feb. 8 and 9.
To prepare for the annual event, the students worked in the school’s library, researching the figures by reading biographies and learning how to properly cite their sources.
In addition to research, the cross-curricular project incorporated literacy skills, as students penned letters to their historical figures to explain why they decided to research them, and artistic skills, requiring them to create stained glass images of the figures during art class.
Dressed as their influential characters, the third-graders kicked off the celebration in the auditorium, where they performed musical numbers and dance routines for an audience of parents, teachers, administrators and peers.
Following, guests gathered in the cafeteria, where with the push of a button, students came to life as their famous characters and shared highlights of their successes. Along with a memorized speech, each student created a poster that included their stained glass portrait, the letter they had written and comparison photos of the individual and themselves.
Members of the museum included Thomas Edison, Martha Washington, John F. Kennedy, Rosa Parks, Elvis Presley, Helen Keller, Princess Diana and a variety of athletes such as Michael Phelps, Lindsey Vonn, Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson and Mia Hamm.
