Wax Museum Project

During the month of ________ the 5th graders will be working on a longterm project that will require preparation inside the classroom and as well as at
home. The students will choose a historically significant figure from this
American History that they would like to research, and obtain teacher approval.
They will be required to prepare a type-written one -- two page report over their
significant figure.
On __________, we will organize a wax museum display in the Gym. The
students will be required to dress as the person they researched. They will become
statues of wax and come to life when an imaginary button is activated. They will
be required to give a short speech, approximately 1-2 minutes, over the life of their
person. The younger grades will come to view our fifth grade wax museum.
The following is the rubric for the overall grade of the research project. The
overall grade will be counted one time in Reading, one time in Language arts, and
one time Social Studies.
Wax Museum Overall Research Project Rubric
Requirement
Written Report
Prepared Speech
Dressed as Character
Total

Points
_____/50
_____/25
_____/25
_____/100

Other daily grades will be taken as the students progress through the project, as
noted on the calendar. These grades will not count towards the cumulative grade.
_______________________________________________________

I have read the information, rubrics, and timeline provided and understand the
requirements for the Wax Museum.
____________________________
Name of Student

_____________________________
Parent Signature

____________________________
Famous Person
Please return the above portion to Miss Stocker by ___________

Research Paper Rubric

Requirement
Outline attached to back of report

Points
_____/5

5 paragraph format.
1 Introductory paragraph, 3 Body paragraphs discussing three events of
the famous persons life, 1 Conclusion paragraph
Each paragraph is a minimum 5 sentences each

_____/20

Bibliography 3 Sources with at least 1 Book (**Remember

_____10
www.google.com, www.bing.com, www.yahoo.com, www.wikipedia.com
and not official sources.) You need the specific web addresses
Typed (must be typed at school), Times New Roman, 12 point font,
Double Spaced

_____/5

Proper capitalization and punctuation

_____/5

Correct spelling

_____/5

Total

_____/50

Prepared Speech
Requirement

Points

Written Speech

_____/5

Eye Contact with audience

_____/5

Clear, memorized speech presentation

_____/5

Speech gives 3 pieces of information about the famous person (this

information comes directly from the research paper)

_____/10

Total

_____/25

Wax Museum Details

Biography: The students are to choose a historically significant figure from American History
that they are interested in researching. The students will research their figure through print, web,
and other materials.
Paper: For the paper the students will do research in and out of class. They will have the
research complete by _________. They are required to have at least one biographical source that
they will use as a research source. They will also need a minimum of two other sources. These
can be books, magazines, articles, or internet sources.
The paper will be written in the five paragraph essay format; one introductory, three body, and
one concluding paragraph. Students will begin writing their paper on ________. They will
begin by organizing ideas in a graphic organizer that is familiar for them, then transferring that
information to an outline and finally completing the process with writing their essay. This work
will mostly be done in class; there will be occasions of homework for any work the students do
not finish in class. The students are required to type the paper here at school and will be given
large amounts of class time during the week of _____________.
I will be taking the opportunity to review with the students that their paper must be in their
own words. I will discuss how to appropriately use someone elses work, give the author credit
for the work.
Creating the bibliography is something we will do in class. We will give the students step by step
instructions on how to complete a bibliography, with any unfinished work to be completed as
homework. To effectively learn how to create a bibliography the students are required to have a
minimum of three sources.
Speech: To be believable as a wax statue come to life the students are required to write and
memorize a speech. The speech will come directly from the students completed report; no
additional research will be required.
They are to apply the information they learned about their historically significant figure to a 1st
person perspective, 1 to 2 minute, speech that will be given in class on _______ and again for the
actual Wax Museum, __________.
They will receive a grade for their speech on ___________ (see rubric for the Prepared Speech).
What I will be looking for is making eye contact, speaking clearly and giving the class three
points of information about their person.
Costume on Wax Museum Day: The students will be graded on their costume ___________. I
will encourage the students to be creative and use what they have. This isnt something they
will have to make or buy something special for, although they can if they choose. I will be
giving the grade based upon effort, not authenticity.

Wax Museum Due Date Schedule

Check off when Completed

___ Decide on person for Biography

___ Student must complete research
___ Begin writing rough draft
___ Typed Final copy of report due
___ Write speech
___ Written Speech Due
___ Memorized Speech Presentation
___ - Dress Rehearsal. No costumes
___ Wax Museum Day with Costumes