DEAD SCIENTISTS & EXPLORERS WAX MUSEUM AT BOULDER OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

November 9, 2012 (Alpine) — Last Friday, November 2, Marie Curie, John Muir, Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Henry Ford, Orville Wright and Amelia Earhart were spotted at Boulder Oaks Elementary School in Alpine!  Fourth and fifth grade students from Mrs. Newcomb, Mrs. Morales and Mrs. Golden’s classes brought famous figures back to life at the school’s annual Dead Scientists and Explorers Wax Museum. 

This well-loved school tradition allows the students to show what they’ve learned about the famous people they’ve researched by representing them in the wax museum. This lesson goes beyond simply writing a report. The students become the person they’ve learned about, creating period costumes, props and other visuals to depict that person’s life story and greatest achievements. Some students even captured their scientist/explorer’s mannerisms and accents! 

The school’s auditorium was transformed into a wax museum with mood lighting, lattice panels creating various vignettes, and background classical music. Over eighty participating students in their still poses looked like wax figures, until their “Press Here” buttons were activated and they came to life, reciting information about the person they were portraying. Family and friends were among the visitors as well as other students. All Boulder Oaks classrooms were lead through the museum by their teachers, giving the younger students the opportunity to learn about these famous people as well. 

 

Moana Miller, principal of Boulder Oaks Elementary stated, “It was one of the best wax museums we have ever had. I was so proud of our students and the amount of work they put into preparing and presenting their chosen scientist or explorer.”

The Dead Scientist & Explorer Wax Museum is part of the Boulder Oaks Elementary STEAM program emphasizing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math.  Within the Alpine Union School District, Boulder Oaks Elementary, located at 2320 Tavern Road in Alpine,  serves students in the first through fifth grades.