Middle Gate Elementary School fourth graders presented their Living Biographies projects for students, school staff and family members on Wednesday, June 1.

Students in Heidi Beauty, Katie Mauro, Linda Baron and Lisa Eleoff's classes all participated in the project. Each year, fourth graders at the school choose to study a well-known or historical Connecticut figure. The students write essays, and then change their essays into speeches, which they practice before sharing them for visitors during the annual Living Biographies presentation event.

As visitors stopped by, students in all four classrooms presented their speeches. Many students were dressed as their chosen figure, like Zosia Teraszkiewicz who studied Harry Houdini. For the event, Zosia wore a white shirt fashioned to look like a straitjacket, with chains around her, replicating the escape artist's straitjacket stunt.

Props were also used. Student James Schovanec wore a jersey and had a football with him to portray football quarterback Steve Young.

Student Howard Schuster said he wanted to study Charles Goodyear because, "I like how he invented rubber and made the tire."

While holding a microphone, student Gabriella Arnold said she wanted to study and portray singer Marian Anderson because, "she made it possible for African American singers to actually sing."

Student Liam Kell said he wanted to study George W. Bush because he thought it would be interesting to learn about a president born in Connecticut.

Rachel Szor said he wanted to study Ella T. Grasso because, "I love that she was the first female governor of Connecticut."

Ms Mauro said all of the students worked hard over the month-and-a-half of the project.

"I am really proud of them," Ms Beauty said, as her students shared their speeches around her. "I am always proud of them, but I am really proud of them [right now]."

The project, Ms Beauty said, was "a fun way" to wrap up their fourth grade reading and writing units.

While holding a camera, borrowed for the day from his grandfather, Joe D'Amico, student Nicholas D'Amico said he wanted to study Edwin H. Land, because he was interested in science and loved how Mr Land had invented the Polaroid camera.

Student Dylan Lewis said he studied illustrator and children's book author Maurice Sendak, adding, "I want to become an artist and an author."

While sitting on a toy horse, student Jillian Hoag said she likes riding horses and decided to study Sybil Ludington, "because she was like the female Paul Revere."

Student Dashill Keeney said he thought it would be interesting to study Samuel Colt, and, "I got to learn tons of stuff I never knew."

Ms Baron said the children continue to impress her with the Living Biographies project.

"They not only learn about a famous person who had or has an impact on Connecticut, but they learn how individual people can do great things if they are driven and persevere," said Ms Baron. "In our classroom museums, we have actors, authors, athletes, inventors, presidents, teachers and more. The children not only write up a report about their person, but they learn how to do presentations, a skill they will need the rest of their lives. We call this PEEP - Project voice, Expression, Eye contact and Pacing."