Entering the gym at St. Louis School in Alexandria, one might have mistaken it for a museum.
Some 53 fifth graders lined the walls of the gym, dressed as though they had stepped out of a history book. At their feet were laminated “buttons” that read, “Press here to see me come to life!” With a tap of the button, the “statue” launched into a speech about his or her life and greatest accomplishments.
“Good evening, my name is Sacagawea,” recited one such statue, whose name was Raina David. “I went on the Lewis and Clark expedition … People told me I wouldn’t survive on the expedition because I was a woman, but I survived.” David said she chose Sacagawea, “because I was inspired by her bravery and going on the expedition when no one else believed in her. And she kept everyone safe.”
St. Louis School held a “Wax Museum” of living statues for students and school parents Jan. 28. Fifth grade teacher Adrianne Fuscellaro said it was the first time she had organized the event. Despite the numerous snow days, she said the students were fully prepared.
The project required students to write a research paper, create a brochure and decorate a tri-fold board on their historic figure of choice. Fuscellaro said the project gave the fifth graders a chance to practice their citation skills. The students then wrote a 1-2 minute speech, which they repeatedly practiced before the wax museum’s debut.
“They practiced in class, but we asked them to commit (the speech) to memory, so that they would be a more authentic wax museum,” Fuscellaro said.
Among the statues were famous celebrities. Shirley Temple, depicted by Evaline Seguin, posed with a faux representation of her namesake beverage. “During the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt once said, ‘As long as our country has Shirley Temple, we’ll be alright,’ ” she said. Seguin described the actress’s little-known political career, serving as an ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia.
Seguin’s reasoning for choosing her historic figure was unlike other students. “My dad has one of her cars, which is a 1989 station wagon that she bought in Czechoslovakia as the ambassador,” she said.
Some students chose more obscure figures. Alexander Beydour donned red high-tops and glasses to depict artist Keith Haring. “I wanted it to be a little more diverse,” Beydour said. He said he admired Haring’s art style, which mixed pop art with street art. “I like that one time he went to France and he painted on a children’s hospital that was six stories high,” he said.
Other students chose contemporary figures. Anthony Fuscellaro donned a kid’s Phillies uniform to represent Bryce Harper, first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. His reasoning for choosing Harper was simple.
“I love the Phillies, and baseball is my favorite sport.”
