Students pose as historical figures for Morning at the Museum Thursday, Feb. 25.
By
Amanda Morales
| 2:04 p.m. February 25, 2016
Sarasota
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There are few chances to see George Lucas, Bill Gates and Pope Francis standing side by side. That was the scene when students at Ashton Elementary School brought historical and pop culture figures to life Thursday, Feb. 25 for the Morning at the Museum project.
First grade and second grade students have been preparing for the project since January by selecting and researching a subject from history or pop culture. The field of subjects ranged from artists, aviators, famous actresses, authors, filmmakers and aristocracy.
Parents and students spent the morning walking around the cafeteria exploring the subjects in costume. As they approached a subject they spring to life with a prepared speech detailing their life.
First grade teacher Whitney Tucker encourages students to speak up when it's their turn and to make eye contact. The unit objective is to introduce students to non-fiction literature and to improve research skills.
“My favorite part of it is listening to the speeches and introducing students to non-fiction,” Tucker said. “By doing this it makes it real for them.”
Ariana Zawrotny spent the morning getting her teased for her subject Marie Antoinette.
Turner Mitter as George Lucas, Sankalp Manjesh as Bill Gates and Daniel Palacio as Pope Francis.
Verite Molinaro recites her speech as American marine biologist Sylvia Earle. Molinaro picked her subject based on her own interest in marine biology and her participation in the Mote Marine Gills Club.
Whitney Tucker's first grade class included characters like Johnny Appleseed and. Audrey Hepburn and Leonardo da Vinci.
Lynn Hall's second grade class included a Wayne Gretzky, Pope Francis and two Albert Einstein's.
Denise Isaacson's second grade class had a Buffalo Bill Cody, John F. Kennedy and Taylor Swift.
Caroline Clissold dressed as Anne Frank sitting at her desk journaling.
Michael Stahl dips his paintbrush pretending to be Leonard da Vinci with his masterpiece in progress the Mona Lisa.
Samantha Horowitz borrowed her sister's guitar for her pop culture subject Taylor Swift.
Ava Johnson picked her namesake Ava Gardner as her subject. The idea to name her came from her grandfather who was a fan of the actress.
Autumn Ruscoe dressed as paralympic equestrian gold medalist Lauren Barwick. Ruscoe was inspired by a biography on Barwick that she read with one of her friends.
The three classes combined for a stage full of historical figures.
Cason Stroth was inspired by the crocodile hunter the late Steve Irwin. Stroth says he shares the same love of animals as Irwin.
Justin Savwoir learned that his subject Buffalo Bill Cody served in the American Civil War.
Aadi Bhansdadi researched American aviator Charles Lindbergh.
Turner Martin channels his inner filmmaker as George Lucas.
