VICENZA -- Having dozens of history's most significant scientists, philosophers or athletes together in one location, entertaining an audience with stories of their life accomplishments, may seem like a scene from a fantasy movie.
But it was not a movie March 29 at Vicenza Elementary School on Villaggio, where some 120 fifth- graders created a sort of wax museum, as part of an annual project that brought renowned figures to life.
"For the month of March, our VES fifth-graders researched famous people, wrote biographies, created timelines, designed posters, memorized speeches, and gathered costumes and props," said Candy Mancino, one of the fifth-grade teachers who coordinated the yearly "Living Biographies" event.
Mancino explained that all students dressed up and presented speeches of their famous person. They also created posters with a timeline of their person, and had props and buttons for them to come alive.
One of them was well-known Albert Einstein impersonated by Maol Eown Coffey, who said, "It may take a lot of time. But all the effort counts."
Another researcher presented at the two-day event was Nobel Prize in Physics (1903) and Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1911), Madame Marie Curie.
Julianny Gonzalez played Marie Curie, and highlighted something the famous scientist said.
"The quote I remember from her was: 'Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now it is the time to understand more, so that we can be fearless,'" Gonzalez said.
Other figures studied by fifth-graders included athletes, singers and movie stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo; Michael Jordan; Nadia Comaneci; Frank Sinatra; Grace Kelly; Marilyn Monroe; George Lucas and Queen Elizabeth.
"I was ready to do my living biography the moment I put my poster up. It was fun to see everyone come to me. I loved it when a person who knew who Ichiro Suzuki was and saw his last game with the Seattle Mariners," said Rory France as Suzuki.
Sienna Romero, as Walt Disney, said she really appreciated this method of learning.
"It was a perfect time to actually learn about someone who, over time, shaped the world (as we know it) today. And it wasn't those boring speeches. There were costumes, props, and awesome posters," she said.
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