By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY—Inverness Elementary School third graders brought learning to life from April 18-20, presenting the annual Living Wax Museum to the school community.

Students dressed in costumes portrayed a range of figures spanning time and place, from Leonardo Da Vinci to Albert Einstein to Michelle Obama.

“This is the biggest project for third grade,” IES teacher Carri Cook said. “We start weeks in advance.”

Students were tasked with choosing and researching an influential historic or current figure. Using chapter books and library resources, students wrote a paper and created an informational poster about their chosen character. Then, they composed and memorized a speech to present during the Living Wax Museum.

Student Hannah Craddock, who researched and portrayed Mother Theresa, said she worked on memorizing her speech for a week.

“They’ve really gone above and beyond this year,” Cook said, noting the large variety in wax museum figures. “(The students) always exceed expectations.”

Some students, such as Ryan Kozlek, chose figures they were familiar with, but wanted to learn more about. Kozlek, an aspiring artist, researched Pablo Picasso.

“(Some of) my family members are artists, and I was really interested in (researching) an artist,” Kozlek said.

Although already familiar with Picasso’s blue period painting, “The Old Guitarist,” Kozlek learned about different Picasso pieces, such as those from his childhood and rose period.

Brooklynn Manuel also chose a familiar figure in poet and activist Maya Angelou.

“She just seemed like a really interesting choice,” Manuel said.

Through her research, Manuel said she learned about Angelou’s inspiring childhood and said she would like to read some of Angelou’s poetry.

Aldyn Falkenberry and Jayden Simmons both researched figures they felt a strong connection with.

“When I went to Books-A-Million, my mom said, ‘This girl looks cool!’” Falkenberry said of her figure, Jane Goodall.

Falkenberry immediately found a connection between herself and famous primatologist Jane Goodall.

“She lived with chimps, and I want to live with pandas,” Falkenberry said. “We both love animals.”

Simmons also found a role model in his chosen figure, Barack Obama.

“(I chose Obama) because I like presidents,” Simmons said, adding he hopes to be president someday.