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Brewton Elementary School was transformed into a wax museum by its fourth graders on Friday. BES fourth grade class was tasked with an immersive history project. The students got to dress up like a historical or famous figure of their choosing, write a one-minute speech about the person and present it to their peers and others.

The students stood as if frozen in time with their poster boards about their person behind them. Once someone stepped onto to the paper button before the student, the student would come to life and teach their audience about the person they are portraying.

“One of our requirements for the Alabama course content standards is to do research,” fourth grade teacher Courtney Montague said. “So, we thought what a better way to do it than to let the kids choose who they want to be and choose someone who inspires them.”

The museum was broken up into several categories: influential women, influential men, sports, performers, presidents and authors. Students chose a wide range of people from Amelia Earhart to Jackie Robinson to Harper Lee.

“I want to represent Amelia Earhart because she believed that women could do anything men could do,” Sawyer Grace Lambeth said.

Each student seemed eager to share the information they learned about their historical figure.

“They have learned a lot like how to research something and how to distinguish between credible sources and not credible sources,” fourth grade teacher Shellie Carden said. “They also learned about the different time periods and that there are a lot of not so pleasant things in the past.”

Some students joined together as historical couples such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott.

“I was inspired by MLK’s moving speeches,” Quincey Robinson who dressed as MLK, said. “He gave everybody the confidence to change the world.”

The Obamas also made an appearance.

“I chose Michelle Obama because she is encouraging,” Hannah Wesley said. “I want to be encouraging, too.”

Check our website Friday for a gallery from the day.