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MANSFIELD: Students host their own wax museum

More than 100 third graders portraying the figures ranging from Ben Franklin, Elvis Presley and Anne Frank to Jane Goodall, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

by Amy Batista, Special Writer
MANSFIELD — Wax sculptures of living and historic figures looked eerily realistic, albeit young, during Madame Mansfield’s Wax Museum held at Mansfield Elementary School last Friday.
   That is until one realizes the sculptures were actually more than 100 third graders portraying the figures ranging from Ben Franklin, Elvis Presley and Anne Frank to Jane Goodall, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.
   ”It’s a long standing tradition,” said third grade teacher Karen Bressler on April 19, adding that it probably has been going on for the past 15 years or longer.
   ”I think the kids have done a really good job with having to do research and with having to write an essay for eight and nine years old,” Ms. Bressler said. “The essays that they wrote are really good and they’ve worked really hard and it’s a nice project for them to show off.”
   Students are directed to choose a figure that has madepositive contributions, she said, noting that in recent years more current figures have been incorporated into the event.
   Each student researches that figure and writes an essay on their lives.
   ”Then they write the person’s life and they decorate the boards,” Ms. Bressler said, adding that most of the project work is done at home by the students.
   The tri-fold board and additional help with the pictures and layout is provided by the teachers, she added.
   ”It is a collaboration with the computer teacher,” she said. “She helps them do their cover pages and type up their poems.”
   The project takes around three months to complete beginning with the students selecting their figure in January.
   Eliana Souaka, 8, of Columbus, portrayed Lucille Ball, who was best known for her role in the TV show “I Love Lucy.”
   ”She is really funny and I always watch her,” said Eliana.
   During the project she learned where Ms. Ball lived, who she married and other interesting facts about her.
   ”She wasn’t just a comedian, she was also a mom of two – Lucy and Desi Jr.,” she said, noting Ms. Ball was also the first female studio boss in Hollywood.
   Kylie Liedtka, 8, of Columbus, chose to portray Florence Nightingale after being inspired by her own mom and step-father who are nurses.
   ”I thought it would be really exciting,” said Kylie of the project.
   Kylie noted that Ms. Nightingale is often known as the “lady with the lamp” and is also called the “mother of nursing.”
   She changed nursing and helped make hospitals cleaner and by wrapping their cuts, she said.
   Kylie found it most interesting that Ms. Nightingale “became almost known everywhere.”
   Julianna Krever, 9, of Columbus, portrayed Amelia Earhart, the first woman pilot to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
   ”I thought she was cool because she did things that women weren’t suppose to do,” said Juilanna.
   Julianna noted that the famous pilot built a roller coaster as a child, but her grandmother took it down because she didn’t think it was appropriate for girls.
   ”I hope people will remember me for inspiring generations of young women to things men were only able to believe to do,” she said, adding that she wanted to make a difference.
   ”I think it’s an awesome way to learn history,” said Joyce Capritti, of Florence, who was there to see her granddaughter’s work. “It gets the kids involved personally.”
   Kim Liedtka, of Columbus, helped create the costume her daughter Kylie wore, which included and apron which with Red Cross and a nurse hat which took about three hours to make.
   ”I think it’s really neat how all the kids get dressed up,” said Ms. Liedtka.
   Emma Hope, 8, of Mansfield, portrayed Shirley Temple, “America’s Sweetheart” who was best known for her acting, singing and dancing.
   ”An interesting fact is every night my mom put 56 pin clothes in my hair,” she said.
   Emily Smith, 9, of Hamilton, portrayed, Betty Ross who is most famous for sewing the American Flag.
   ”George Washington asked me to,” she said when asked about her famous work, adding it took her around two years to complete the flag.
   Emily liked the “challenge” that the project provided.
   ”I wanted the challenge,” she said. “All I really knew about her was she made the American flag.”