Students embrace history
ADAMS TWP — Parents, staff and school administrators saw American history come to life Friday afternoon at Mars Elementary School.
Students in the third-grade classrooms of Colleen Hinrichsen and Jennifer McClelland shared their knowledge of the 44 presidents of the United States and their wives at “Our Wax Museum of Presidents and First Ladies.”
An annual event for more than a decade, each student chooses a president or his wife about whom to write a report.
Students then write information on a card, dress up in costume, and seat themselves in three rooms at the school.
Visitors then can press the blue star sticker on each costumed student's hand. Upon this “activation,” the “wax figure” president or first lady stands to share information on the historical figure they are representing.
Kate Muchnok dressed as Barbara Bush, complete with silver wig and dated clothing.
“My dad thinks George H.W. Bush was a great president, and she was one of the first ladies I didn't really know much about,” Kate said.
She said the wax museum helps her overcome her natural shyness at school.
“When I get called on, I get a little nervous,” Kate said. “This helps me because I practice with my family, and now I am a little braver.”
President Jimmy Carter sat alone instead of with his better half, although a poster announced her presence.
“She threw up in the stairway,” said the erstwhile 39th president, who also is known as Jackson Buttermore.
His mother, Becca Buttermore, appreciated the wax museum.
“They learn well when they get to do different types of activities,” she said as she filmed her suited son.
Jackson also liked the assignment, but turned his nose up at Carter's status as a peanut farmer.
“Peanut butter? Just doesn't go with me,” he said.
Anna Pietrusinski portrayed Nancy Reagan.“She had brown hair like mine, and she wore a red dress,” Anna said, “and I had a red dress also.”Anna shared with visitors that Reagan acted on Broadway and in movies, and lived in Chicago for part of her life.“And her campaign was to keep kids off drugs,” Anna said.Superintendent Jim Budzilek traversed the rooms, pushing the “buttons” that brought the pint-sized presidents and spouses to life. He listened attentively to each 30-second presentation.“I didn't know that Mrs. Lincoln spent $20,000 on clothes,” Budzilek said. “Imagine how much that would be today.”He observed that some students barely used their note cards.“It's fantastic, how students embrace the project,” Budzilek said. “It's a unique way to learn history.”Regal in her pink pillbox hat and sweater, Jacqueline Kennedy sat primly waiting for a visitor to touch the blue star on her hand, which was covered in a black, elbow-length glove.Her portrayer, Kyra Harvey, picked her in part because her own middle name is Jacqueline.“And because my mom wanted me to pick (Kennedy,)” Kyra said. “She was a strong person.”She was surprised to learn that Mrs. Kennedy had all the televisions removed from the White House, and that her son, Patrick, died during her term as first lady.Kyra enjoyed learning about Jackie Kennedy.“It helps you learn when you can act out the character and feel what it's like to be that person,” she said.Principal Bob Zaccari proudly activated several wax figures.“They really get to know their characters through preparation,” Zaccari said. “The kids have a great time with it, and it's definitely a unique way to bring history into the classrooms.”Helen Taft, resplendent in a two-tone pink satin gown, is known around the elementary school as Madelyn Ostapchenko. “Mrs. Taft” giggled when a visitor pointed out that her “husband” was America's portliest president.“Mrs. Taft had the dining car removed on one train trip because she was always trying to keep William on a diet,” Madelyn said.She said the wax museum would likely be remembered by the third graders for a lifetime because of the amount of practice required to convincingly share the information.Hinrichsen said she is always amazed that the students embrace their characters so completely.“For the last week, they were talking to each other in character,” she said. “They would talk about their lives, and what they had in common.”She said the project helps students relate real-life people to the curriculum, in addition to increasing their research skills.After an hour, Hinrichsen lined up the presidents and first ladies, and tasked Drew Piatek, who dressed as our nation's first president, with being in charge of the music as the students paraded around the three rooms before returning to class.“George Washington is going to carry an iPod,” she said.
