Walnut Creek third-graders create wax museum

At least for one day, the famous Madame Tussauds Wax Museum had nothing on the third-grade students at Walnut Creek Elementary.

On Friday, Nov. 17, the third-grade students invested a lot of time and poured a ton of work into creating the annual Third Grade Living Wax Museum.

From 9:30-10:30 a.m., parents, community members and students had a chance to bring quarters to the show and were invited to place a quarter into the box at each participant’s feet.

In doing so, the wax figures sprang to life and began pouring out the story of their individual lives to the donor.

“This day is special,” third-grade teacher Tonya Widder said. “This is their day to shine, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a tremendous learning tool that allows them to be as creative as they want to be.”

Each wax figure would sit or stand still until someone placed a quarter in their receptacle. Then they would come to life and share their figure’s story. Once done, they would resume the pose until the next quarter hit the bottom of the box.

The list of historical figures was wide ranging. Included in the wax museum were the following: Abby Beachy as Jane Goodall, Charlee Beachy as Simone Biles, Grace Gingerich as Clara Barton, Landon Gingerich as Johnny Cash, Luke Hershberger as Daniel Boone, Kyle Hochstetler as Davy Crockett, Maddie Hostetler as Betsy Ross, Kenzie Mast as Laura Ingalls Wilder, Gill Miller as Albert Einstein, Jarrad Miller as Sitting Bull, Lennon Miller as Dolly Parton, Lilly Miller as Sacagawea, Claire Mishler as Chloe Kim, Mila Pacula as Lucille Ball, Emma Rhodes as Queen Elizabeth II, Eli Riehle as Shaquille O’Neal, Redik Taggart as Michael Jordan and Liam Troyer as Derek Jeter.

Each student had his/her own reason to choose the figure they studied, from personal sports heroes to famous historical figures who helped shape the world.

In choosing Goodall, Abby Beachy said there were certain connections between her and the anthropologist known for her work with chimpanzees.

“I like animals and being in the wild, and she did some neat things,” Beachy said.

One choice was that of Lucille Ball. Donning a bright-red wig, Pacula could have been a tiny version of one of America’s most iconic funny women.

“I found her interesting because she was so funny, and I like being funny too,” Pacula said.

Another choice was that of Sitting Bull, and Jarrad Miller said the great Lakota Indian chief was someone he wanted to explore.

“He was a great chief, and I thought it was fun to learn more about him,” Miller said.

The great thing about the wax museum is each third-grader was given free range in choosing the historical figure they portrayed.

By giving the students their choice among the millions of possibilities, Widder said the kids could explore the details of someone they were passionate about.

“Each student picks a historical figure and reads a biography about that person,” Widder said. “Then they pull out the facts that they find to be the most interesting. They write and rehearse those facts, and then on this day, they become that person.”

The event takes all day, with the wax museum in the morning followed by each of the students getting videotaped throughout the day.

Widder said this is a day that has become a school favorite over the past decade, and the students in first and second grade who come to the museum always get excited about their upcoming turn.

She also said this is a lesson that sticks with kids, and the students fourth through sixth grade reflect back and talk about their characters to this day.

“The older students who have been here come to this and look back and remember who they were, what they looked like and the facts they shared,” Widder said. “It’s a really neat way to teach history because it has a major impact on the kids. It’s kind of a hectic, magical day that everyone enjoys.”

Once all of the quarters are collected and thrown in the pot, the funds raised will go to an individual, family or group facing a hardship.

“The kids get to choose where those funds will go, and at this time, they haven’t picked anyone yet, but it’s always neat to see them get excited about helping someone in need,” Widder said.

The kids never hesitated after raising $405.82. They opted to donate the funds to Tusky Valley High School through First Federal Bank to support the community and families involved in the tragic bus accident that recently took place.