Fifth graders at Taylor's Creek Elementary took their history lessons personally May 12, wearing wigs, boas and stethoscopes, during their third annual Wax Museum.
Dressed as a historic character, students were frozen at a station in the TCE gym until museum strollers inserted tickets in slots in boxes to signal the start of the student's speech.
The children portrayed scores of notable national and international people, from Abraham Lincoln and Queen Isabella to Leonardo da Vinci and Condoleezza Rice.
Courier columnist Nicholas Rorro Sr. sampled the museum closely listening to the students highlight the lives of history makers.
He not only called the event enjoyable for spectators, but "very important," for the participating students.
"There are more countries that know about our history than our own kids do," he explained. "For them to do this, not only is it going to help them, but it's going to help them help each other."
Rorro, who is studying for a history degree, noted how instead of just learning their assigned characters, students are also learning about other historical figures from their classmates.
"I think it's excellent," he said. "We need more people to enhance history."
Tracy Campbell agreed.
"They (students) definitely need history," she said. "Because a lot of (people), even adults do not know anything about history."
In addition to learning about the past, fifth grade teacher Kelly Edgington saw the students taking other important skills away from the project.
"I think they're learning a lot about self-discipline, to be so still and memorize their speeches," she said.
Another fifth grade teacher Suzanne Russell recalled the effort the students put forth in order to prepare for the evening's showcase.
"There were a lot of parts to this project. They had to write an informational essay, think about the props to the costume," she said.
After portraying Dr. Charles Drew, Sharon Adams said the project got her son also thinking more about what he wants to be when he grows up.
"He's always wanted to be a doctor, so it made him study a little bit more," Adams said.
She liked how the students were learning a variety of people, not just the more commonly known figures.
"It will truly impact their (students') lives in the future," Adams said of the museum.
Dressed as a historic character, students were frozen at a station in the TCE gym until museum strollers inserted tickets in slots in boxes to signal the start of the student's speech.
The children portrayed scores of notable national and international people, from Abraham Lincoln and Queen Isabella to Leonardo da Vinci and Condoleezza Rice.
Courier columnist Nicholas Rorro Sr. sampled the museum closely listening to the students highlight the lives of history makers.
He not only called the event enjoyable for spectators, but "very important," for the participating students.
"There are more countries that know about our history than our own kids do," he explained. "For them to do this, not only is it going to help them, but it's going to help them help each other."
Rorro, who is studying for a history degree, noted how instead of just learning their assigned characters, students are also learning about other historical figures from their classmates.
"I think it's excellent," he said. "We need more people to enhance history."
Tracy Campbell agreed.
"They (students) definitely need history," she said. "Because a lot of (people), even adults do not know anything about history."
In addition to learning about the past, fifth grade teacher Kelly Edgington saw the students taking other important skills away from the project.
"I think they're learning a lot about self-discipline, to be so still and memorize their speeches," she said.
Another fifth grade teacher Suzanne Russell recalled the effort the students put forth in order to prepare for the evening's showcase.
"There were a lot of parts to this project. They had to write an informational essay, think about the props to the costume," she said.
After portraying Dr. Charles Drew, Sharon Adams said the project got her son also thinking more about what he wants to be when he grows up.
"He's always wanted to be a doctor, so it made him study a little bit more," Adams said.
She liked how the students were learning a variety of people, not just the more commonly known figures.
"It will truly impact their (students') lives in the future," Adams said of the museum.