Middle school student history project highlights the year students were born

Herald-Tribune

The Wax Museum, a 22-year-old tradition at Nevada Middle School, is about to begin again.

This year's theme is based upon events and people who played an important role during the year that most of the eighth graders were born --1992. Some are characters in government. Some are sports figures. Some are living, and others died during this year.

Students in accelerated English, science, and social studies have researched 39 interesting figures and have written a four-page report on each person. In addition, each student will give an oral presentation, complete with costumes and props.

Some of the notables chosen this year are sports figures Dorothy Hamil and John Madden, along with Olympic champions Shannon Miller and Carl Lewis; politicians, Senators Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Dole, as well as business people Sam Walton and Pleasant Rowland; and entertainers, Christopher Reeve, Whoopi Goldberg, and Mariah Carey; and classic historical figures such as Princess Diana and Audrey Hepburn. New characters to the Wax Museum are fashion designer Donna Karan and novelists Nora Ephron and Mary Higgins Clark.

The final product of this project is the actual display. Each student will portray his or her character and become a "wax form." The character will "come alive" and give a short presentation about the person's life, and students have scoured attics and flea markets for props and costumes to add realism.

The Wax Museum will be presented on Tuesday, Nov. 28, and on Wednesday, Nov. 29, during the day, for other middle school students to tour the display. In addition, students will host an evening performance for parents and the general public on Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 6:30 p.m. The evening performance is in the gymnasium to give a better showcase to the students and increased seating for the public. It is suggested that everyone be seated by 6:15 p.m., so there will be no disruptions during the evening display.

Teachers involved in this unique project are Janet Guthrie, accelerated science; Patsy McCullough, accelerated English; Ashley Carter, accelerated social studies; Amy Hertzberg, media specialist; Harva Miller. computer technology; and Kim Warren, video imaging.

From Garth Brooks on the stage to Bonnie Blair on the ice, from Danielle Steele at the computer to Dan Marino on the football field, from Rosie O'Donnell on "The View" to Stephen Spielberg on the set, the Wax Museum 2006 will certainly give the spirit of "In the Year the We Were Born, 1992."