Living wax museum garners knowledge, excitement
Phil Campbell Elementary School sixth-graders packed out the gymnasium Nov. 21 with their Living Wax Museum. This year’s museum featured a few new characters, like Desmond Doss, Jennie Finch and J.K. Rowling, along with returning classics like Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Helen Keller.
“I had figures that I knew I wanted (to highlight), and the students had ideas of their own that I had to approve,” sixth-grade teacher Nina Jackson said.
Paisley Holaway portrays author J.K. Rowling, an inspirational figure for the sixth-grader, at Phil Campbell Elementary School’s Living Wax Museum Nov. 21.
One of the new figures, J.K. Rowling, was played by Paisley Holaway, who Jackson said did an incredible job learning about the author and staying in character, complete with a fake British accent.
Holaway said she chose Rowling because she inspires her – not just because of her famous Harry Potter series but because of her life story as well.
“I’m an aspiring author, and J.K. Rowling is such a great inspiration for me and for others,” Holaway said.
Jackson said she, her fellow teachers, students and their parents have worked hard since the beginning of October to put together the Living Wax Museum program, which included about 60 “living wax figures,” along with their backdrops and costumes.
“It’s a lot of work, but the students learn a lot and have fun,” Jackson said.
Jackson said she began this history project as a way for students to learn the basics of writing a research paper, which includes notecards, rough drafts and research. They also learn speech-making skills through the presentation they have to give to their class. Students put those presentation skills to work again the night of the program, when they have to stand still until someone approaches them – and then they launch into their in-character speeches.
“They were only supposed to talk for a minute, but they requested that it be extended to a minute and a half because they didn’t want to leave out important information,” Jackson said.
Principal Jackie Ergle said he never sees the sixth-graders get so excited about something until the wax museum rolls around each year.
