History lesson comes to life at Einstein Academy

American history came to life Tuesday as fourth- and fifth-grade students at Einstein Academy in Elgin portrayed historical figures in a program presented to their parents and classmates.

Taylor Rodina, 10, who portrayed Alexander Graham Bell, proudly held up his telephone made completely out of duct tape as he spoke about his life of invention.

The lesson was the culmination of a section on American history. Each student wrote a paper about a historical figure and then dressed as the character for the program.

The students were then "activated" (such as placing a flag in the hands of Betsy Ross) at the school's "Wax Museum" and talked in first person about their subject.

People from Bell to Francis Scott Fitzgerald to Ross circled the common area of the school as parents and classmates toured the museum and "activated" the re-enactors.

"Abraham Lincoln is always a popular choice," said Einstein Academy founder Cathy Ilani, "but each student gets to choose who they want to be."