SIGSBEE CHARTER SCHOOL WRAPS UP YEAR WITH COOL PROJECT

Historic Figures Came To Life At Living Museum

DYLAN OLIVE www.keysweekly.com

Editor’s Note: This article was intended to print before the end of the school year, but was held due to space constraints.

Historical figures came to life in Sigsbee Charter School’s cafeteria during the last week of school as teachers and parents witnessed a real-life “Night At The Museum.”

Sigsbee’s fourth-grade class celebrated the end of the year by teaching each other about historical figures in an hour-long ‘living museum’ experience. Students presented themselves as their chosen historical figure and gave firstperson speeches to visitors who “pressed their buttons” to make the living figures “come to life.”

The students spent weeks researching their heroes, preparing speeches and creating displays before the culminating live event. The project integrated multiple subjects and encouraged the students to dramatically present biographical information to teachers, parents, schoolmates and other visitors.

“The staff and parents were so impressed with the kids and how much hard work they put into their projects,” said Feliz Andrews, Sigsbee’s performing arts teacher. “I was amazed by the attention to detail. Their costumes were spot on.”

Andrews put the project together for the kids and believes it is an excellent way for the students to learn while having fun.

“They were so excited and enthusiastic throughout the whole process,” he said. “They were antsy to pass the information they had learned along.”

The cafeteria was bustling with miniature versions of many well-known historical characters, including Walt Disney, Steve Irwin, Albert Einstein, Billie Holiday, and Napoleon Bonaparte.

“Our school was filled with many significant role models,” fourth-grade teacher Stephanie Schifano said. “The kids worked very diligently to research their historical figure and dress like them.”

Dylan Olive is a Key West resident and current journalism student at University of Florida.