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PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) — As Lone Oak Elementary third-grader Selena Smith has told her mother many-a-time, she just wants to be an artist.
During a recent class project, she got her wish. She was famous French post-impressionist painter Henri Rousseau.
Leading up to the project, Selena and the rest of Beth Hovekamp's third-grade students each had to choose a historic figure, research that individual and then write a paper about his or her life. Then, they got to dress and pose as their chosen historic figures in a "Living Museum" in the school's library where the students were not only the statues, but the teachers.
"Students pose still as statues until someone stops beside them, then they come to life and tell a little bit about themselves," explained Hovekamp. "It's my favorite project, because they're so stinking cute!"
LOE kindergarten, first- and second-grade classes took turns touring the Living Museum, stopping to listen to the likes of everyone from George Washington and Betsy Ross to Michael Jackson.
Not only is the Living Museum project adorable, Hovekamp said, it helps the students develop their researching, writing and speaking skills in a way that's so fun students don't even realize how much they're learning.
"I think it's so neat, and it makes an impact," said Khara Phelps, whose son Brody came to school as famed football coach Paul Brown. "Kids are going to remember that character for a long time because they had to work so hard at it. We have a younger daughter and she's already debating who she wants to be when she gets to the third grade next year."
Hovekamp has taught for 29 years, though she's taught the third grade for only four, and she's put on the Living Museum each of those four years. Every year she has students who pick classic historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr., famous musicians like Michael Jackson, and sports heroes like Babe Ruth. Every year she also has students who pleasantly surprise her with their choices, like actress Shirley Temple, artist Diego Rivera and of course, artist Rousseau.
"Very statuesque," said LOE Principal Dan Pope of Rousseau, a.k.a. Selena. More so than any other student, she stood still as a statue, paint pallet in hand and a copy of Rousseau's painting, "Tiger in a Tropical Storm," at her feet.
"The funny thing is, she really is usually fidgety, and I'm just amazed she's standing as still as she is," said Joanna Smith, Selena's mother. "I told her, Honey, if there're no kids around just relax! She was like nope, I got this. They did a very good job, every one of these kids. It's awesome that they actually enjoy history like they do."
When Selena overheard her mother, her painted-on mustache twitched ever-so-slightly as she fought off a smile.
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