Epic Charter Schools - Living Wax Museum - Grades 4-12

LIVING WAX MUSEUM

INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-12 Updated January 2026

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:

Kristi Rich Family Engagement

kristi.rich@epiccharterschools.org

LIVING WAX MUSEUM

INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-12 PROJECT CHECKLIST 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 continue their research and begin writing a biographical report and a short speech to gain a deeper understanding about their character’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!

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.

Write a five-paragraph historical biography that includes a works-cited page.

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 4-12 Step 1: Register for the event.

Step 2: Choose a subject.

Character Ideas:

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

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 4-12 Step 3: Conduct research.

My Character’s Name:

Connecting with your character means knowing them as much as possible, so the research phase of this project is crucial.

Date of birth:

Be sure to take thorough notes while researching your character and to include at least eight events from their life in chronological order.

Early childhood: 1.

2.

3.

Middle years: 1.

2.

3.

Later years: 1.

2.

3.

Location:

LIVING WAX MUSEUM INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-12 Interesting Facts: 1.

2.

3.

Timeline Notes: Date

Important Event

LIVING WAX MUSEUM INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-12 Step 4: Write a biography.

Once you have completed your research, write a historical biography about your character. Each report should include an introduction, 3 body paragraphs, a conclusion and a works-cited page.

Introduction: Introduce your topic and the information that will be discussed in your body paragraphs. You can start with a short story, questions, facts, quotes or interesting statements about your person.

LIVING WAX MUSEUM INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-12 Body Paragraphs: Each body paragraph should highlight information mentioned in your introduction, as well as the facts you have gathered. This is also where you can include charts, graphs and tables, if you have them.

LIVING WAX MUSEUM INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-12

LIVING WAX MUSEUM INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-12 Conclusion: Wrap up your statements and thoughts here. Re-emphasize important key points in a new and fresh way.

Works Cited: Include a page that shows where you found your information (Book, newspaper, magazine, etc.).

LIVING WAX MUSEUM INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-12 Step 4: Create your visual display.

Create a poster on a three-sided display board that reflects the research you have done.

This board should include pictures of your historical figure, your timeline and any other important information. Your display can be as creative as you want. If you are unsure where to start, you can use the example below as a template for your display’s sections.

LIVING WAX MUSEUM INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-12 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...

Thank you and have a nice day.

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.

Costume Ideas: