Local elementary school students present a living museum experience

Jessica Gignac’s Grade 4/5 class at École St-Jean Baptiste held a “Musée Vivant,” which is a living museum, for fellow students, staff and parents/grandparents. The class gathers for a group shot.

A local elementary school class in Amherstburg welcomed their fellow classmates, teachers and parents and presented them a living museum experience.

Jessica Gignac’s Grade 4/5 class at École St-Jean Baptiste presented a “Musée Vivant” last Thursday (June 4) in the school gymnasium. The class set up for an hour in the morning and the presentations happened between 12-1 p.m. and 2-3 p.m.

Gignac explained this was a project in the curriculum, where they have to create a biography but she wanted to put a different twist on it and have the students “delve into their characters and become the person they selected.”

The project took about one month to complete, with work being done both at school and at home. The students had to create a Google Slide presentation and the presentation that went before the rest of the school community.

The students created their own costumes and brought in their own materials, she added. 

Julie Jensen picked Amherstburg’s Madison Young for her biography.

“It’s an occasion for them to invite the school, their parents and grandparents and they will present to them as their chosen person,” said Gignac. “It gives them an authentic experience instead of just doing it with pencil and paper.”

This is not the first time one of Gignac’s classes did a “Musée Vivant,” as she said she also did such a project with her class in 2018. Her current class has 27 students.

Emma Torress said she chose Roberta Bondar because she has always been interested in space.

“I think it’s cool because she’s the first Canadian to go into space,” said Torress. “I learned a lot about her.”

Milan Baze’s presentation also had a space theme as he went with Chris Hadfield. Baze said he gained new information on Hadfield, dating back to him being born in 1959 in Sarnia. 

“I picked him because I like space and he seems like a really nice guy,” he said.

Durell Schmidt chose Drake, as Drake is someone he enjoys listening to. 

“I got to write about my favorite rapper,” said Schmidt. “It’s fun and I like to write.”

Reed Gignac, son of his teacher, said he went with Bill Nye the Science Guy. He said he enjoyed looking up information on Nye and there was a lot of things to write about. He was excited to present his findings.

Nash Greenham learned more about Tim Horton, and knew more about Horton over and above the popular coffee and donut chain he helped found. Greenham said he is a hockey fan and enjoyed learning more about Horton, the latter having died in a car crash at age 44 in 1974.

Julie Jensen’s presentation had an Amherstburg flavour to it, going with Amherstburg resident Madison Young. Young is a graduate of École St-Jean Baptiste and her artistic abilities appealed to Jensen.

“I love to draw,” said Jensen. 

Jensen added she hasn’t met Young, but knows she went to the school and lives in Amherstburg.

Payton Smith chose Celine Dion because “my mom likes her and I like her too.”

“I think she’s pretty,” Smith added.

Local elementary school students present a living museum experience

By Ron Giofu