LIVING WAX MUSEUM
INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 1-3
Updated September 2024
Introduction
If you’ve never been to a wax museum, it is pretty amazing how real the wax figures can appear to be. Well, as part of Epic’s Living Wax Museum, you get to become people from the past!
Each person will be given a 6’ x 6’ area in which to make their character come to life. By choosing historical figures who have contributed to science or history in a significant way. During this project, you will learn about the cultural and historical impact of your character while you improve your research, writing, artistic and creative skills. While learning about the characters chosen by you and your classmates, you will discover their contributions to all aspects of culture and knowledge.
There will be several steps that will prepare you for the ultimate event. It will be important that you make an effort to not only have fun while becoming your character, but to also learn as much as you can about the individual so that you can lose yourself in the character. The more you learn about the person’s life, family, influences, challenges and successes, the more alive your character will seem, which will improve the experience of everyone involved.
For more information about participating in this exciting learning opportunity, please reach out to:
Stephanie Harjo Family Engagement Specialist stephanie.harjo@epiccharterschools.org
LIVING WAX MUSEUM
INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 1-3
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
WEEK 1
o Students will research and select a historical figure or notable individual they will portray in the Living Wax Museum.
o Students will begin researching their chosen historical figure, take notes and organize information.
WEEK 2
o Students will delve deeper into their research, gathering information about their chosen historical figure’s life, achievements, and impact.
o Students will create a three-panel poster to showcase their research with pictures and important facts about their character.
WEEK 3
o Students will finalize their reports, scripts and display boards. This includes practicing speech memorization and developing gestures and movements.
o Students should practice presenting and request peer feedback to ensure accuracy and clarity.
WEEK 4
o Students are encouraged to have a dress rehearsal to practice their presentations in full costume and character in front of family and friends.
o Students will showcase their presentations as living wax figures. Feel free to invite parents, teachers and fellow students to attend the exhibition!
PROJECT CHECKLIST
Register to participate in the Living Wax Museum.
Choose a person from history to research.
Conduct research and make notes about subject’s life and accomplishments.
Gather images and other materials and use your notes and essay to create your display board.
Write and memorize a speech about your historical figure. Make sure your practice presenting in front of someone.
Participate in the Living Wax Museum
LIVING WAX MUSEUM
INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 1-3
Step 1: Register for the event.
Step 2: Choose a subject.
The first step of your project will be to decide which scientist or historical figure you want to become. In order to make the project more fun and engaging for everyone find ways to “connect” with your character.
You can google options for this project, or choose from the list below.
Adams, Samuel Aldrin, Buzz Anderson, Hans Christian Anning, Mary Armstrong, Neil Bach, Johann Sebastian Barton, Clara Beatles, The Bentley, Wilson Bigmama Blackwell, Elizabeth Boone, Daniel Braille, Louis Bridges, Ruby Bryant, Kobe Carson, Rachel Carver, George Washington Cleopatra Coleman, Bessie Crockett, Davy Curie, Marie da Vinci, Leonardo Darwin,Charles Disney, Walt Earhart, Amelia Ederle, Gertrude Edison, Thomas Einstein, Albert Eisenhower, Dwight David
Elizabeth, Queen Eratosthenes
Farnsworth, Philo Ford, Henry Frank, Anne Franklin, Benjamin Gehrig, Lou Goodall, Jane Gretzky, Wayne Hale, Nathan Handel, George Harrison, John Hatshepsut Henry, Patrick Houdini, Harry Howard, Luke Huarta, Diana/Wales Hughes, Langston Humanitairians
Hurston, Zora Jackson, Andrew Jefferson, Thomas Katsushika, Hokusai Keller, Helen Keller, Teresa Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, John F. King, Martin Luther, Jr. Kingsley, Mary Kwan, Michelle Lewis and Clark Lincoln, Abraham
Character Ideas:
Madison, Dolley Magellan, Ferdinand Mandela, Nelson Marshall, Thurgood Mcauliffe, Christa McCoy, Elijah Mitchell, Jackie Morris, Esther Morse, Samuel Mozart, Wolfgang Muir, John Nightingale, Florence Oakley, Annie O’Keeffe, Georgia Owens, Jesse Paige, Satchel Parks, Rosa Patch, Sam Petit, Phillippe Pocahontas Polo, Marco Potter, Beatrix Presley, Elvis Prisbrey, Grandma Reagan, Ronald Revere, Paul Ride, Sally Robinson, Jackie Roosevelt, Alice Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Machel
Roosevelt, Teddy Ross, Betsy Rudolph, Wilma Ruth, Babe Sacagawea Sasaki, Sadako Schliemann, Neinrich Shakespeare, William Shelley, Kate Sitting Bull Stanton, Elizabeth Cady Strauss, Levi Taggart, Brian Tallchief, Maria Tenzing Norgay Thorpe, Jim Truth, Sojourner Tubman, Harriet Tutankhahamun Twain, Mark van Gogh, Vincent Washington, George Wilder, Laura Ingalls Wood, Grant Wright, Orville and Wilbur
LIVING WAX MUSEUM
INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 1-3
Step 5: Prepare your speech.
Create and memorize an oral presentation that covers the majority of the following topics about the person you bring to life at the Living Wax Museum:
Hello, my name is I was born on (date), in (location). I am famous (or important) because Something interesting about my life is I would like to be remembered as
Did you know...
Step 6: Create your costume.
Create and wear a costume that you make. Carefully research clothing worn during your character’s time period. Choose something they would have worn on a daily basis.
There is no need to spend a lot of money on your costume. The goal is to have fun!
Step 7: Present on the big day!
You will be presenting to parents, students and teachers. Remember to bring your poster, props and anything else you need to portray your character.
Thank you and have a nice day.
Costume Ideas: