Elvis Presley and Albert Einstein may have never actually stood in the same room, but that was the scene on Thursday morning at Towamensing Elementary School as its annual Living Wax Museum project came to life.

Under the guidance of sixth-grade teacher Jackie Ivancich, students dove deep into the lives of their chosen heroes, transforming the school gymnasium and hallway into a display of historical and contemporary figures.

The project, which started in 2019-20, replaces what was a 10-book report requirement for reading class.

“Instead of the book reports, we moved to one project per marking period and the wax museum became the third marking period project for sixth grade,” Ivancich said. “Students can choose any biography that they want, and then from there, they create their character.”

Students transformed themselves into their chosen characters, researching their lives, achievements, and challenges. After compiling a list of facts, students made informative posters that would serve as visual aids during the museum experience.

They were also tasked with crafting 30-second speeches from the perspective of their characters. Students from lower grade levels could approach a student, press a button near their character, and listen to a brief speech about the person being portrayed. Afterward, the student resumed their still position, akin to a real wax museum exhibit.

The final touch involved creating costumes to fully immerse themselves in character. Dressed in their chosen attire, the students stood in or just outside the gymnasium.

Mackenzie Spalding chose to portray Lindsey Vonn because she was inspired by Vonn’s perseverance in the face of injuries.

“Skiing is one of my favorite hobbies to do during the winters,” Spalding said. “Lindsey injured herself so many times and she faced many obstacles, but I really liked how she kept working to overcome the challenges.”

In the hallway outside the gymnasium, Charlie Coombe kept everyone entertained as the late, great Elvis Presley.

“I listened to some of his famous songs and I really like his music,” Coombe said. “I thought he’d be really interesting and it turns out I know a lot more about him now, which is cool.”

Ivancich, reflecting on the project, highlighted the collaborative spirit that blossomed among her students.

“The best part of this project for me is listening to them as they work,” she said. “They’re spread out on my floor. They’re looking at each other’s posters and asking questions. They are learning so much about each other without even realizing it.”