Welcome to the ‘Wax Museum’
CES students bring socially historic figures to life, sorta
Kaelyn Bowling looks the part standing still and waiting, dressed as Clara Barton.
Eric Page likes sports (football more than baseball) and while Jackie Robinson was on “the list,” because his life had such a huge impact on society, Mr. Robinson was added.
“I just like those stories more,” Bowling said Friday morning.
Bowling stood on the Clinton Elementary auditorium stage, standing still and being silent, waiting to tell the story of Clara Barton.
Page stood in the aisle of the auditorium, stock still, waiting to tell “his” story.
They were two of 75 Clinton Elementary School fifth graders who took part in the school’s “wax museum” where students completed a social studies/history project by selecting a famous person in history, dressing the part, then reciting a brief biography on their subject … But only after visitors pushed a button.
Yes, in this case you really had to know how to push their buttons (a piece of paper with a black dot on it).
If you’ve ever traveled in a car with more than one 10 or 11-year-old, then you probably know getting them to talk is not a problem.
But Friday morning, “mum” was the word until you pressed the black dot.
“My name is Abraham Lincoln …” Anna Hackworth began.
“Hello, my name is Bessie Smith. I was born in Chattanooga …” Emma Dixon said as soon as the button was touched.
The period covered spanned from around the American Civil to “modern times” and students were allowed to pick their subjects, with a little guidance — “the list (what’s a museum with 15 Elvis Presleys and no Henry Bessemers?).”
“They (the students) had about three weeks to prepare for this,” CES social studies instructor Kelley Adkins said. “They wrote a paper on their subjects and made presentations. This is just a fun way to cap it all off.”
And these were no “wax dummies.”
Not only did the students learn about the subjects they posed as, they learned about the time periods they lived in, how they acted, how they lived, and all the hardships they faced.
They also learned how they dressed.
Bowling made her nurse uniform at home.
Kenneth What decided he wanted to explore the life of 1st Sgt. George Jordan — buffalo soldier and Medal of Honor recipient for his bravery in battles against the Apache.
“He was a good soldier,” What said. “He was brave and he never gave up.”
