McCammon elementary students create “wax museum”

Fourth grade students at Mountain View Elementary School in McCammon celebrated Idaho Day with a “wax museum” featuring famous figures from Idaho’s past and present.

But instead of using real wax, the 41 students volunteered themselves.

“We said, ‘You’re the wax figure. You’re that person. Pretend that you’re them, and pretend that you’re wax and you can’t move,” said teacher Crystal Tracy.

During the 90-minute museum session, the students had to remain still until visitors pushed a button at their side, at which point they were allowed to give a speech about their character.

“It was really fun to get to learn how somebody else’s life went,” said student McKenzie Rawlings.

Rawlings came dressed as Stacy Dragila, America’s first female pole vaulter.

Although Dragila is originally from California, she attended school at Idaho State University.

“I like sports, and I think it would just be so fun to run and flip yourself up in the air with a pole,” said Rawlings.

But some students had deeper connections to their characters, including Gus Johnson, who came as potato billionaire J.R. Simplot.

“My great-grandpa knew him and he was friends with him, so I just kind of picked him,” said Johnson.

But the “wax museum” wasn’t just fun and games. Students were graded on their efforts as part of an assignment.

“This is a writing assignment and it’s part of their Idaho history grade, so it’s a double-dipping kind of assignment,” said Tracy.