JAY – Jay Elementary School fourth graders have their own unique way of learning about famous Maine people – by participating in a wax museum.
They showed their families what they had learned by portraying well known Mainers in an activity Feb. 26. The students picked a Maine person at random, researched them, and made a keynote presentation.
However, what made the learning “come to life” for the fourth graders was the method in which they showcased it. In each of the three classes, after teachers Nancy Anctil, Donna Labbe, and Tammy Deering gave an introduction of the project, the students stood at their desks with their heads down. When someone pushed a homemade buzzer or rang a bell, the students lifted their heads and gave background information on what made their character famous.
Not only did the students dress like the person they researched, they introduced themselves as that person. Labbe said that the project “incorporates writing, reading, and public speaking. They learn about Maine history, too.”
She praised them for their work in an introduction to parents.
“The kids have done an incredible job portraying famous Mainers. We incorporated a lot into this fun learning program.”
Anctil was also delighted with the students’ enthusiasm, and pointed out that they learned “how to manage a computer to get to the information and read it as their level.” Deering said that she was impressed with how they fully invested themselves with their research of the famous Maine people in the time that they had to work on the project.
During their research, the kids wrote down the information about their Mainer on index cards and used it to help them tell the story behind each famous person’s accomplishments. They filled out a graphic organizer and composed their keynote presentation in the computer lab.
Each student did a title page and put their information together from the point of view of the person they researched. They listed their sources, and composed a three-paragraph research paper.
In addition to their classroom teachers, the students had help from their art and technology instructors with the project.
The list of who each student portrayed is as follows:
Mrs. Labbe’s class
Zayne Ashlee – Leon Leonwood Bean
Caleb Bickford – Stephen King
Owen Bryant – Bill Swift
Ashlyn Condon – Rachel Carson
Paris Howes – Milton Bradley
Alyssa Hustus – Dorothea Dix
Breanne Jacques – Seth Wescott
Camden Phillips – Mike Bordick
Ella Plourde – Joan Benoit Samuelson
Annaliese Redman – Andrew Wyeth
Jazmyn Tardif – Margaret Chase Smith
Ryder Welch – Joshua Chamberlain
Benjamin Wright – Samantha Smith
Mrs. Deering’s class
Abigail Adams – Cindy Blodgett
Zachariah Broadway – Winslow Homer
Brittany Brown – Ricky Craven
Kimberly Fleury – Milton Bradley
William Fowler – E.B. White
Haley Jackson – Dorothea Dix
Jasmine Marks – Samantha Smith
Brady Nichols – Patrick Dempsey
Isaac Parker – LL Bean
Collin Pearson – Chester Greenwood
Jayden Perrault – Seth Wescott
Caleb Robbins – Stephen King
Haley Southers – Anna Kendrick
Leeah Volterman – Joshua Chamberlain
Mrs. Anctil’s class
Jayden Achorn – Samantha Smith
Alyssa Beaulieu – Seth Wescott
Craig Brown – Stephen King
Bayleigh Buote – Joanne McCallie
Reese Couture – Ricky Craven
Quinlin Fournier – Robert Peary
Leah Gilbert – Rachel Carson
Kaila Godbey – Leon Leonwood Bean
Courtney Hogan – Chester Greenwood
Calley McCourt – Anna Kendrick
Garrett McDonald – Hiram Maxim
Joshwa Michaud – Stephen King
Braun Porter – Bill Swift
Morgan Timberlake – George W. Bush
Keegan Turner – Milton Bradley
Fourth graders at Jay Elementary School held a “wax museum” last week, where they portrayed famous Maine people. Here, Morgan Timberlake gives a presentation about her Mainer, George W. Bush, as Aurelie Merrill listens.
Quinlin Fournier plays the role of Robert Peary, complete with a heavy fur-lined coat.
From left to right are Jay Elementary School fourth graders Brady Nichols (portraying Patrick Dempsey), Isaac Parker (portraying L.L. Bean) and Jayden Perrault (portraying Seth Wescott).
Kimberly Fleury (left) tells about what made her character, Milton Bradley, famous as classmate Haley Jackson (portraying Dorothea Dix) looks on.
Families enjoyed visiting with the Jay Elementary School fourth graders and learning about the famous Mainers they portrayed during the wax museum.
Photos: Barry Matulaitis/Livermore Falls Advertiser
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