th
5 Grade
Wax Museum
Student Name: ________________________
Famous Person________________________
Due Dates:
Have students think of and choose a person:
Week of March 16th
Packet Assigned: March 23rd
Go to Herrick to get biography: March 26th
Biography Read/Evidence of Notes: April 13th
Rough Draft: April 20th
Final: April 27th
Presentation: May 1st FRIDAY
Wax Museum Presentations
For the purposes of our classroom, each 5th grade student will be required to learn all about
the life of a famous person from History and 'transform' into that person. The more
realistic...the better (costumes, accents, etc.).
● STEP ONE: CHOOSE A FAMOUS PERSON
 These websites may help:
http://people.pppst.com/index.html (POWER POINTS)
http://bellinghamschools.org/sites/default/files/BIO/explore.htm (LIST)
● STEP TWO: COME UP WITH QUESTIONS
 Once you have found your famous person, write 4-5 INTERESTING questions that
you would like to know more about. These questions will help with your research.

TIP: Get 4-5 index cards and write a question on each one. Once you have found the
answers, write them on the back of the index cards or on your note pages.
● STEP THREE:LEARNING ABOUT THE PERSON
 Each student will be required to use at least 3 sources to research their person
1. Internet – one is mandatory
2. Biography – one is mandatory
3. Other source – one is mandatory (encyclopedia, books, magazines, videos, etc.)

Each student will be required to READ A COMPLETE BIOGRAPHY about their
person's life.

Here are some great websites:
HOW TO MAKE A Bibliography
http://bellinghamschools.org/sites/default/files/BIO/LEARN.HTM
VIRTUAL LIBRARY: http://www.k12vlibrary.org/
● STEP FOUR: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER – ROUGH DRAFT
 Once you have collected many good pieces of information about your person, the next
step is to combine those pieces in such a way as to cast light upon your questions.

Each student will be required to TYPE a research paper (in FIRST PERSON), retelling
the most important things that happened in that person's life.

Please use the following areas as headings in your paper. To earn all of the possible
points each heading must be included.
Introduction
Childhood
Young Adulthood
Adulthood
Career
Later Life/death
Conclusion
______ / 10 pts.
______ / 10 pts.
______ / 10 pts.
______ / 10 pts.
______ / 10 pts.
______ / 10 pts.
______ / 10 pts.
● STEP FIVE: EDITING ROUGH DRAFT
 Submit to two other people (family friends, etc.) to edit using the following criteria:
- Capital letters
- Punctuation
- Spelling
- Complete sentences
- Paragraphs (indented with 3-5 sentences per paragraph)
- Quotes – cited correctly
- Editors must sign off on draft
 Editors must sign off on editors sheet (see attachment)!
● STEP SIX: FINAL
 Make all corrections for your final draft.
 Make your cover page, table of contents and cite your sources.
 PRACTICE for your final presentation!
● STEP SEVEN: Costume/Props/VISUALS
 Costume—do your best to dress exactly like your person
 Two Visuals/Props
- Pick two visuals that help represent your person’s life
- These can be handmade, bought, or you might even have them at your house
5th graders...this is your LAST PROJECT OF YOUR ELEMENTARY CAREER!!! Please
make sure that you put 110% effort into this project.
Wax Museum Project
Introduction:
What the person did:
Why your person was extraordinary:
A grabber to keep your reader’s attention:
Birth:
The date (if you can find it):
Where:
Who where their parents?:
Any interesting facts about the birth:
Childhood:
Any siblings? If yes, who:
Hobbies:
Where they lived:
School:
What influenced their future:
Interesting facts:
Young Adulthood:
Any jobs:
School or college:
Where they lived:
Married:
Interesting facts:
Adulthood
Jobs:
Where lived:
Family:
How did they change history?:
Important events in their life:
How long did it take for them to do these important things?:
Who did they help?:
Who helped them?:
Why did they do these things?:
Why was their life remarkable?:
How was their life horrible?:
Was your person a hero? Why?:
What traits did they have that were admirable?:
Interesting facts:
Death
When:
How:
What age:
Any last words?:
Interesting/ fun facts:
Conclusion
A grabber to get reader’s attention:
Sentence to tie up loose ends:
One last reason why they were remarkable:
Wax Museum Project Rubric
Sources: 3 sources (book, Internet, other)
Book
______ / 10 pts.
Internet
______ / 10 pts.
Other
______ / 10 pts.
_____/ 30 pts.
Sources cited correctly
_____/25 pts.
Editing: Evidence that your Wax Museum Paper was edited
Capital Letters
______ / 10 pts.
Punctuation
______ / 10 pts.
Spelling
______ / 10 pts.
Complete Sentences
______ / 10 pts.
Paragraphs
______ / 10 pts.
_____/ 50 pts.
Final Essay: All components are present and completed thoroughly _____/ 90 pts.
Cover Page
______ / 10 pts.
Table of Contents ______ / 10 pts.
Introduction
______ / 10 pts.
Birth/Childhood
______ / 10 pts.
Young Adulthood ______ / 10 pts.
Adulthood
______ / 10 pts.
Career
______ / 10 pts.
Later Life/death
______ / 10 pts.
Conclusion
______ / 10 pts.
Presentation: Delivery of the information was professional and
rehearsed, showing your commitment to the project
Evidence of practice
______ / 35 pts.
Partial Memorization
______ / 10 pts.
Eye contact
______ / 10 pts.
Engaging
______ / 10 pts.
Loud Speaking Voice
______/ 20pts
Time (5-7 mins.)
______ / 20 pts.
Costume/Props/Visuals
Costume
_______25 pts.
Props
_______25 pts
Props pertain to person’s life
_____/ 105 pts.
_____/ 50 pts.
Total _____ / 350 pts.
Editors Sign Off Sheet
Student’s Name ____________________________________
Wax Museum Person _________________________________
This student is writing a Wax Museum essay (biography) as required. Please read the essay carefully and
make corrections in the following areas to help the student improve the quality of the essay.
_____ Capital letters
_____ Punctuation
_____ Spelling
_____ Complete sentences
_____ Paragraphs – indented with 3-5 sentences per paragraph
_____ Quotes – used and cited correctly
_____ Clarity – does it make sense?
Comments
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
I have edited this history essay (biography) based on the above criteria.
Name of Editor/Signature _________________________________________________
Student’s Name ____________________________________
Wax Museum Person _________________________________
This student is writing a Wax Museum essay (biography) as required. Please read the essay carefully and
make corrections in the following areas to help the student improve the quality of the essay.
_____ Capital letters
_____ Punctuation
_____ Spelling
_____ Complete sentences
_____ Paragraphs – indented with 3-5 sentences per paragraph
_____ Quotes – used and cited correctly
_____ Clarity – does it make sense?
Comments
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
I have edited this history essay (biography) based on the above criteria.
Name of Editor/Signature _________________________________________________
(Sample Cover Page)
Wax Museum Presentation
The Life and Times of Helen Keller
(Title of essay)
Jim Levering
(Name of student who wrote the essay)
May 1, 2015
(Date essay is due)
(Table of Contents Example)
Table of Contents
The Life and Times of Helen Keller
By: Jim Levering
Introduction………………………………………………………………….…… Page 1
Birth/Childhood…………………………………………………………………… Page 2
Young Adulthood. ……………………………………………………………..… Page 2
Adulthood………………………………………………………….……………… Page 3
Career……………………………………………………………………………… Page 4
Later Life/death…………………………………………………………………… Page 7
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………… Page 7
Sources………………………………………………………………….………… Page 8