Tate’s School’s Wax Museum takes living history to new level
They held the Wax Museum, which is a culminating inquiry-based project, allowing students to showcase the lessons they have learned throughout the school year, according to Tracey Van Hook, Tate School director of resources.
“The students chose a historical figure from the past, researched and created a timeline of that person’s life, wrote an expository paper and a monologue,” Van Hook said. “Students then created a display board, added a costume and acted as though they were that person.
“Each student was frozen in position, like a wax statue, until a button was pushed,” she said. “Then, they presented the personal story of their selected famous persons in character.
“Students could choose to be a historian, a president, an inventor or an explorer, just to name a few categories,” Van Hook said.
“Inquiry-based projects like this allow students to take ownership of their learning,” she added. “They exercise autonomy through voice, choice and ownership.
“The students are engaged and interested in learning,” said Mary Alice Devenney, a social studies teacher at Tate’s. “They take pride in their work and are able to make connections to their lives and the world around them.”
“I am so proud of the students and their hard work,” Van Hook said. “Learning to present in front of others is also a life skill that
serves them well as future leaders.”
