Grade Level: 3rd
Type Of Project: Literacy/Biography/SS
Context: This project is a cross-curricular project that was created to get students excited about reading biographies and writing informational text. This project has students reading, researching, writing informational texts, and presenting their research to an audience.
Informational text is important to read in all grade levels. The common core standards are divided almost equally between literary and informative text. Both types of text are equally important. When it comes to informational text, I have a few favorite projects I always do. I love combining informational text with writing, researching, speaking, and listening. Writing informational pieces is a big standard in every grade, along with researching a topic and reporting on it. Wax museum is the perfect project to not only get the biggest bang for your buck by including multiple cross-curricular standards, but it’s a HUGE hit with the students.
One way I love to include all these aspects in one thing is the Wax Museum Project. You can really do this at any grade level.
The Wax Museum Project is where students research a famous person of their choosing. This could be a historical figure or anyone from any timeframe that has made an impact on our world. The students read about the person using print and digital resources, research the person’s life, take notes while they are reading, use an organizer to plan their writing, write an informative essay, and present a speech to the class, parents, community, and via social media to expand their audience. Students dress up as their person, memorize their speech, and present their learning to their class, parents, the community, and the world. Student speeches are recorded and posted on social media (with parent permission of course) to expand their audience.
Voice & Choice: Students choose the person they research. They create their own display boards, plan their own scripts, and plan their costumes.
Real-World Connections: Students present their learning to an authentic audience. Students simulate their person by dressing up like them as they give their final speech.
Standards
ELA: W.2 & W.7, L.1&2, RI.1, RI.3, RI.4, RI.5, RI.7, RI.10, SL.2, SL.4, SL.5, SL.6
Social Studies: SS.3.1-12, SS.6.13, SS.6.14,
SS.6.17, SS.6.22
Universal Constructs: 21.3–5.ES.1-4