Student Andrew Wang recites his speech for a crowd of parents as Meriwether Lewis who was born in Albemarle County, Va., on Aug. 18, 1774. “I like exploring,” Wang says. The subject for his project is best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Photo by Fallon Forbush.
Fourth-grade students at Forestville Elementary School were up to something that had their parents flocking to their classrooms last Friday morning, Feb. 17.
All 88 fourth-grade students of teachers Margaret Zuerner, Lisa Goglio-Zarczynski and Nancy
Crotty were making their Living Wax Museum Project presentations — in costume.
The Wax Museum tradition has been going on since before Crotty started teaching at the school 15 years ago, she said.
“We study Virginia history as part of fourth-grade curriculum,” Crotty said. “The project enriches the curriculum and gives them a research project from start to finish.”
Every fourth-grade student selects a famous Virginian who had a positive impact on the state. They then have six weeks to research and write a report. On the day of the Wax Museum, students display a tri-fold poster report about their Virginian and recite an informational speech while dressed up like their Virginian.
“They’re famous for the day,” Crotty said.