History in Wax

History in Wax

Newington Forest students deliver speeches as historical characters.

Famous faces in American history from Harriet Tubman to Davy Crockett made their way into the library at Newington Forest Elementary in Springfield for a two-day exhibit titled the "American History Wax Museum." The project for sixth graders enabled students to write a research paper on an important historical figure, then rework the paper into a one-minute speech that the students delivered to attentive fourth and fifth graders.

The 28 sixth graders assembled in the media center and waited, frozen, until students would push a "button" on the floor in front of them. The historical figure would then come to life and deliver his or her speech.