Wax Museum Project
Goal – The “living wax museum” is a collection of visual displays where students, dressed as famous
individuals, stand at attention, while visitors walk around and tour exhibits illustrating the life of the
person represented.
For students’ research and presentations, I have selected a core group of influential African
Americans from which students may choose.
Step 1 – Choose one person from the following list. You must tell Ms. Humphrey your selection
by February 3. If the person you have chosen is already taken in that class, you will be asked to
pick another.
Athletes
Authors
Marcus Garvey
Hank Aaron
Maya Angelou
Malcolm X
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Ralph Ellison
James Meredith
Muhammad Ali
Alex Haley
Elijah Muhammad
Arthur Ashe
Lorraine Hansberry
Rosa Parks
Charles Barkley
Langston Hughes
Bobby Seale
Wilt Chamberlain
Zora Neale Hurston
Fred Shuttlesworth
Althea Gibson
Toni Morrison
Emmett Till
Reggie Jackson
Walter Mosley
Ida Bell Wells-Barnett
Michael Jordan
Richard Wright
Walter White
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Civil Rights Leaders
and Activists
Roy Wilkins
Sugar Ray Leonard
Joe Louis
Jesse Owens
Jackie Robinson
Tiger Woods
Ella Baker
Stokely Carmichael
W.E.B. DuBois
Medgar Evers
Entertainers
Josephine Baker
Halle Berry
Bill Cosby
Dorothy Dandridge
Sammy Davis Jr.
Mae Jemison
Colin Powell
Morgan Freeman
Percy Lavon Julian
Clarence Thomas
Gregory Hines
Frederick McKinley
Jones
Andrew Young
Lena Horne
James Earl Jones
Spike Lee
Ernest Everett Just
Coleman Young
Singers and Musicians
Mary McLeod Bethune
Marian Anderson
Eddie Murphy
Garrett Augustus
Morgan
Louis Armstrong
Sidney Poitier
Charles Henry Turner
Harry Belafonte
Richard Pryor
Madame C.J. Walker
Chuck Berry
Will Smith
Booker T. Washington
Ray Charles
Denzel Washington
Daniel Hale Williams
Nat King Cole
Oprah Winfrey
Politicians, Lawyers,
and Other
Government Leaders
Miles Davis
Inventors, Scientists,
and Educators
Archibald Alphonso
Alexander
Ralph Bunche
Duke Ellington
Aretha Franklin
Dizzy Gillespie
Patricia Bath
Benjamin Oliver Davis
Sr.
Bessie Coleman
Minnie Joycelyn Elders
Billie Holiday
David Crosthwait Jr.
Jesse Jackson
Michael Jackson
Mark Dean
Daniel "Chappie" James
Robert Johnson
Charles Drew
Thurgood Marshall
Diana Ross
Matthew Henson
Kwesi Mfume
Stevie Wonder
Jimi Hendrix
Step 2 –Research information about your chosen African American. You will find and answer
the following questions.
Questions:
1. Born, died, childhood family, important experiences, education, adult family
(marriage/children), people or events that influenced them.
2. What did they do that was significant (hugely important!)? What obstacle did they
have to overcome? What important events happened that revealed their greatness,
personal strengths, or positive character traits?
3. Why should this person be remembered? What lesson can be learned from their
life? How would life/the world have been different without this person or their
contribution? What do you admire about this person?
Step 3 –Create a tri-fold of the person chosen. The poster must include all questions asked
above.
Step 4 –Create a costume. The costume must accurately depict the person chosen and must
remain in “Get out of Dress Code” dress code. The costume does not have to be something
store bought. Be creative! *Props will be allowed. *No face paint will be allowed.
Step 5 - Develop speeches using research. Speeches are to be written in the first person and in
the voice of the subject. You will write a one minute summary (oral presentation) introducing
important facts about your figure to the museum visitors. This summary will be written on note
cards for reference on the day of the living wax museum. You must have your summary/speech
memorized! The note cards are only a tool in case you become a bit nervous during the wax
museum. You should not have to rely on the note cards throughout the presentation.
Step 6:On the Living Wax Museum Day, you will set up a station complete with posters, props,
etc. You will have your presentation notes handy. You will also have a “button” that guests will
press in order to have you start saying your oral presentation (we will be making the ‘buttons’
in class).
Parents are invited to come during their child’s class period. Please let me know if you want to
attend.
Requirement
Poster Board
Prepared Speech
Dressed as Character May 27th
Total
Points
_____/50
_____/25
_____/25
_____/100
Examples of Project
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have read the information in this packet about the Famous African American/Wax Museum
Project and am aware of the due dates my child needs to meet for this project. The Wax
Museum (costume/poster/etc) will take place February 28th. Please do not turn in material
prior to due date.
Student’s name________________________________________
Parent signature___________________________________ Date______
OUTLINE FOR WAX MUSEUM NOTES
Famous Individual: ______________________________________________
What he/she is famous for (this must be included in your
presentation): ___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
___________
Childhood-When and where they were born:
-Family life:
-Where they grew up:
-Likes or interests as a child:
-Other important information about their childhood:
Education
-Grade School, high school, college, no education:
Adulthood
-Jobs:
-Married and/or family:
-Where they lived:
Other:
-Highlights of life or career:
-When, where and how this person died (if known):
Other Quick Facts:
Remember, this is just a guide to help you with your presentation. You don’t need to
include all of the facts listed above, and you may even find some interesting
facts that aren’t listed that you may want to include in your presentation.
Your oral presentation should include at least:
1. Three facts about their childhood/early years
2. Three facts about their adult life/later years
3. What they are famous or well known for