The Annual
Third Grade Wax Museum is such a very cool day for third grade! It is the culmination of three months worth of project-based learning.
It all begins in Social Studies as we discuss different time periods and important people throughout the course of the year. In January, during our Reader's Workshop time, we begin our unit of study on narrative non-fiction and prepare the students to read non-fiction and biographies.
Each student is assigned a historical figure to represent in the museum. This is when Mrs. Glass so generously helps the students select a "just right" biography on their person. She also provides them with information from encyclopedias. Mrs. Glass works with the students to create the works cited page they will need for their final research paper. Mrs. Kinney guides them through their internet search to supplement their research.
After the students have time to read their biography, we begin the next phase of our project during Writer's Workshop time. We begin the process of outlining, note taking, rough drafts, peer editing and editing, all of which culminates with the final copy. We also create cover pages during our computer time.
While all of this is going on, Mrs. Kinney uses our computer and Web 2.0 time to work with each student to create an iMovie using the iPads. The students use the outline we prepare for them as a guideline for the information they will use in their iMovie. They learn many skills using their iPads throughout the fall with Mrs. Kinney so that when it comes time to create the iMovie they are well prepared to tackle the assignment.
Not only are all of these wonderful things going on, but then we ask Mrs. Moore to help with the next phase of the project -- the self-portrait! The students bring in a picture of their historical figure and then Mrs. Moore helps them hone the art skills they have been working on during the year to create their final portrait for the museum.
Each student has a time table for events, and their homeroom teachers sign off as each phase of the process is complete. The students are also responsible for coming up with the appropriate costume and props to accentuate their display in the museum.
This year, we had the wonderful assistance of Mr. Plough, our Upper and Middle School theater director, to help the third-graders with the most important part of the wax museum -- posing! He helped them learn how to pose as figures, how to move gently so no one would notice and how to re-pose after their speeches!
Yes, speeches! This was the newest addition to our museum this year. Each figure came to life with the push of the play button! Each student had to write and memorize a one- to two-minute speech about their figure's life. They wrote this speech based on the research they had conducted.
It was a most amazing day based on three months of very hard work by an amazing group of third-graders! We had huge crowds during the day and the kids were extra excited when all of our friends from the Middle School made surprise visits throughout the day!
The third-graders will take some time over the next several days to reflect on their journey to the wax museum, evaluate the process for us, and help us begin to plan for the Third Annual Third Grade Wax Museum next spring.
