Sixth graders at Franklin Elementary School stepped into the shoes of historic and famous Black figures Wednesday as part of a now annual celebration of Black History Month.
The group of about 37 students participated in what’s known as a Black History Month Living Wax Museum, an interactive learning project that encourages students to immerse themselves in the lives of notable Black Americans.
As a part of the event, students took on the roles of a wide variety of figures, including the renowned jazz singer Billie Holiday, civil rights activist Malcolm X and Jackie Robinson, the first Black athlete to play in Major League Baseball.
But the program also highlighted lesser-known individuals from the past, such as NASA astronaut Guion Bluford, who became the first African-American person to travel to space in 1983 as part of one of the space agency’s first Space Shuttle missions.
“For too long so much history has been misrepresented, untold, or minimally addressed,” said Franklin Principal Eric Conrad. “This project aims to shine a light on and celebrate the many major contributions that have gone with limited acknowledgement.”
Melinda Therriault, a sixth grade teacher who has helped organize the “living wax museum” for the last five years, said the event was also designed to give students an opportunity to learn about and engage with Black culture.
“This celebration allows for students to understand Black history and its achievement,” she said.
Therriault said students were introduced to the project earlier this month with a virtual field trip to the Ridgefield Playhouse and a screening of “Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad,” a recorded play that recounts the life of the famed abolitionist who helped dozens escape slavery before the Civil War.
In preparation for the museum, students were allowed to choose from a list of historic figures to research. Over the last few weeks, they’ve used what they’ve learned to write an essay, create a visual presentation and deliver a written speech about their subject.
“The essays are proudly displayed upstairs on a bulletin board,” Therriault said.
On Wednesday, the students dressed up as their historic figure and gathered in the school’s gym to deliver their presentations to their fellow pupils and guests invited to explore the museum, including Mayor Laura Hoydick.
Conrad said he believes the annual tradition has been successful with students because it allows children with a shared cultural background to see themselves reflected in history. He suggested that by taking on the persona of a historic figure, the students are able to make history come to life.
“I’ve witnessed how seriously our students take this, how connected they become and how important they feel it is to share their story with others,” he said. “The condition our teachers have created for this project truly is learning in its highest form.”
