Waccamaw School students create living wax museum

The temporary museum was part of a month-long research project for the students that included them writing a paper and a speech and creating a poster and costume, third grade teacher and organizer of the project Hannah McLamb said.

McLamb noted that the project was intended to help students learn, however, the museum aspect was intended to be a community outreach opportunity for families get involved.

“It’s really fun to do and you get to learn about history and important people,” fourth-grade student Kaede said.

Kaede said her favorite part was dressing up. She decided to do her project on Helen Keller and said that if they were to do it again, she would do a different historic person.

“Yes, this was a great turn out,” Waccamaw School Media Coordinator Rebecca Oxendine said.

It had been a few years since the last time the project was done, however, Oxendine said that this year’s turn out was larger than the last time a student wax museum was held.

She noted that she thinks the growth in social media and additional communication lines between the school and families over the past years had a positive impact on the number of attendees at the event.

“All the people here have a lot of fun,” third-grader Allie said.

She researched Sacagawea and noted that her favorite part was people pressing her button so she could share her knowledge.

“I picked Sacagawea because I feel like we’re kind of a like and we both really like the wild…,” she said.

Asked if she were to give advice to other students participating in the project, she said that speaking louder and slower was best because some people had a hard time hearing.

A couple of students shared that the planning ahead of the museum was the most challenging because it was very time consuming and specific.

While the wax museum buzzed with history and proud parents, other Waccamaw School teachers brought their students in to join the fun.

“I think it’s a different way to learn for hands on learning,” second-grade teacher Kelly McBryde said.

The museum closed out the school’s Read Across America week. Kindergarten through fifth grade participated by dressing up for theme days and doing a variety of activities revolved around encouraging reading, Oxendine said.

“This is awesome,” substitute teacher Cece Gore said.

Gore said she loved the idea of the project.

“With their age group, I think these kids have done a really good job,” she said. “The teachers are instructing these kids and helping these kids. The teachers here at Waccamaw have done a tremendous, tremendous job and everything. I don’t have anything else to say but kudos for the teachers here at Waccamaw.”

Savanna Tenenoff is the staff writer at the Brunswick Beacon. Feel free to reach out with comments, questions and tips at stenenoff@brunswickbeacon.com.