By NICOLE LOGGINS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Cornerstone Christian School third and fourth graders brought history to life on Feb. 22 for the schools second annual Living Wax Museum.

Robin Davis is the teacher responsible for creating the living wax museum, an idea she found online. Her students portray historical figures ranging from Jackie Kennedy Onassis to George Washington.

“I wanted history to be something that sticks with them. I hated history growing up,” Davis said.

Students lined the walls of the sanctuary and classes toured the museum by visiting each character’s station. Each student actor then recited a speech detailing the lives of the respective characters.

Davis, who has been teaching at Cornerstone for three years, said the students write papers, research and memorize facts about the historical figures they choose to portray. She said the students and their families go all out when creating costumes and props.

Jay Adams, dean and teacher at CCS, gave Davis approval to start the wax museum project. This year, his daughter also participated, portraying Laura Ingalls Wilder.

“There’s not enough in education that makes you say ‘oh, that’s cool’,” Adams said. “The confidence the kids develop from this trumps anything else they could be learning.”

Davis praised Adams for providing her with the creative freedom to develop the living wax museum project.

“That’s why I love my job,” she said. “Because of our small size and less bureaucratic overhead than some other schools, he allows me to teach with creative freedom. I can tailor the curriculum to what fits my students.”