Famous figures from history took pint-sized form last Wednesday, March 23, in the classrooms and hallways of Cascade View Elementary School. All fourth grade students chose an important person to impersonate for an hour-long “wax museum” experience.

From politics and business to science and the arts, students represented key contributors to the world, and told anyone who activated their wax figures by pressing their buttons, how these people made the world a better place, along with some little-known facts about their characters. For example, did you know that Helen Keller’s famous teacher, Annie Sullivan, ultimately went blind herself, from a childhood disease?

Popular figures included flier Amelia Earhart, activist Rosa Parks, athletes such as Michael Jordan and long-distance runner Steve Prefontaine, and political leaders from JFK to Ghandi. There were a few royal figures, too, including Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana and Queen Cleopatra.

Students memorized their presentations, and sometimes turned the tables on their audiences, quizzing them on what they’d just learned.