History
is about more than dead people long past. It's a medium for learning new ideas
and processes. It's a vehicle for change. History lesson plans should include
historical reenactment, cultural immersion and student-directed, hands-on
history activities. Students should experience history activities through all
five senses. They should engage in interactive history activities. Then they
begin to see the big picture. Here are cross-curricular history activities that
teach reading, writing, speaking, research, art and drama. Students will create
tableaux for historical reenactment in the Living History Wax Museum.
How
to create a living history wax museum: Have students choose figure for
historical reenactment from whatever social studies content you're studying:
exploration, colonial period, a country, inventions, mythology. Kids should
research their person, her life, work and lifestyle. Another living history
variation is a cultural diversity wax museum, where students represent famous
people who share their ancestry. Students might choose literary figures or
famous characters of their heritage for historical reenactment. Then students
will create a living history tableaux with a costume, props, artifacts and an
appropriate backdrop for historical reenactment of their chosen figure.
Individual
tableaux will be set up like wax museum exhibits that guests will visit.
Arrange living history exhibits in a multipurpose room, series of smaller
classrooms, along a hallway or outdoors. Divide tableaux with portable
partitions or use large cardboard pieces to create individual niches for each
students tableaux. Each student should have a table to display props. Organize
work days for students to construct props/backdrops. Provide paper, recycled
materials and large cardboard boxes.
Next,
students should write a 1-2 minute first-person script in the character's
voice. Encourage them to include interesting biographical details and
vignettes. Their historical reenactment should end with a quote from their
chosen person. Have students practice their narratives with each other and
provide each other with feedback. Students should memorize their monologue and
recite it to guests who come to the wax museum.
Have
students write a transcript of their speech. Assemble narratives into a printed
booklet for guests to take home. Attach a map noting where each child is
located. Encourage younger guests to collect "autographs" on their
programs. Save programs for student portfolios. Have students invite guests and
create promotional advertising for their living history project and wax museum.
During the performance, guests travel from character to character. It could be
done onstage as a pageant, but booths where guests can circulate is more
informal and comfortable for families with small children or senior grandparents.
