St. Petronille fifth-graders dressed as explorers for social studies unit

Fifth-graders at St. Petronille Catholic School in Glen Ellyn re-enacted the lives of famous world explorers through a self-created wax museum exhibit.

Sixty students dressed up as explorers, created maps, brought in props and presented oral reports.

"The purpose was to bring to life their curricular concepts that they were studying in social studies class," said Ginny Callaghan, teacher and director of institutional advancement.

"They were studying famous explorers, so the idea was for the students to take on their personas so they had a better idea of what these people were like and what they accomplished."

Social studies teacher Licia Ryan directed the wax museum, and has been doing so for several years.

"The students have to have studied and known very well the character," Callaghan said. "It was up to them to come up with things that would enhance their presentation."

Parents, visitors and students from different classes all sat in on the wax museum and watched the performances.

"The thing that I found fascinating about it was that it was a beautiful combination of educational concepts done in such a fun way," Callaghan said. "There was something educational across the board."