History Comes To Life at Harrison Elementary School

HARRISON - The Harrison Avenue School recently completed its annual wax museum exhibit and it was a resounding success.

"We've been doing it for many years," said Mrs. Gelsomino, one of the four teachers involved with this year's exhibition. "It is one of our favorite projects."

Third graders at the school are required to do a monthly book review. The wax museum is part of the book review project.

"The children choose a biography of a well-known person, who they know little about," explained Gelsomino. "We encourage them to stay away from pop culture icons, or current sports figures, and choose people they will all learn something new from. Otherwise we would have a sea of Micheal Jacksons, A-Rods and Michael Jordans."

After choosing their biography, the children summarize the most important and interesting facts, which they mold into a short resume. They learn the resume by practicing with each other and with their families, until they have it memorized.

On the big day, the students dress in character - with appropriate props - and the school stages the wax figure exhibit.

The halls, classrooms and auditorium of the school are decorated to represent everything from science laboratories to the Hall of Presidents, depending on the characters chosen.

The students stand like wax statues for half an hour, while visiting family members stroll the "exhibit".  Each student wears a "PRESS HERE" button on their chest. When pressed, the wax figures come to life, reciting their bios in character.

Eight-year-old Wallace Cortazar, from Skorney's class was Annie Oakley. I was hesitant to press the button on her chest, as she was holding a rifle, and I wasn't sure just how realistic the reenactment was meant to be. Turns out, the rifle was a toy and Annie Oakley was more than friendly.

Wallace explained that she had picked Annie Oakley because Oakley was a cowgirl and Wallace loves horses. Wallace's costume also had personal historical significance as her older brother had worn the same Western-style hat when he was General Custer in the wax museum exhibit several years ago.

Harrison Sakai chose Milton Hershey as his character, and posed beside a giant chocolate kiss.  Luckily, the 8-year-old likes chocolate. I learned from Harrison that Hershey actually had his first success in caramel, with the milk chocolate fame coming later.

Isabel Oconnell, from Ms. Straus' class, was Marie Curie, the scientist who discovered polonium.

"I really like scientists, and Marie Curie did something good for a lot of people," Isabel said.

George Washington was magnificently represented by Andrew Feldman, one of Mrs. D'Arco's students. He posed with his hand holding his lapel, as evidenced in many of Washington's portraits. His costume was very ornate from the ruffled shirt, to the tri-corner hat.

"We bought the costume specially. But I had the hat from a visit we did to Williamsburg a while ago," Andrew explained.

The crowning touch to Andrew's costume was the knee-high boots, which Andrew proudly informed me belong to his grandmother, who wears them herself when they are not in use by George Washington.

Our current President was represented by 8-year-old J.J. Pirrello. When I pressed JJ's button he recited:

"I'm Barack Obama. I was born on August 4, 1961. I was such a terror my teachers didn't know what to do with me. I was so smart I skipped two grades. Now I'm President of the United Sates."

J.J. is currently deciding between two future careers – President of the U.S. or the Harrison Police Chief. We'll have to wait to see how that decision turns out.

The students unanimously said this was the most fun school project they had participated in, and their teachers noted the many  elements the children learn from the exhibit.

"It's a wonderful way for our students to learn multiple skills," Gelsomino said. "On top of learning what biographies are, they learn how to summarize facts, public speaking skills, and details of the other students' characters in addition to their own."

The project is not without perils though.

"Standing for that long is wearing," Gelsomino warned. "Most years we have a fainter who has to be taken to the nurse's station. Last time it was a heavy plastic Elvis costume and a very hot day, that did one of them in."

Despite this, the wax museum remains a joy for participating students and their extended families who come to visit.

The staff and administrators of the Harrison Avenue School are to be congratulated on combining fun and learning so successfully.

I only wish my teachers had thought of it when I was in third grade.