It has been a part of the Marion Elementary School curriculum of second graders for many years, studying North American heroes and U.S. symbols.

Second grade teachers Shannon Cooper and Susan Hall matched students, and their personalities and interests, with famous heroes including former presidents, first ladies, astronauts, aviators, athletes, and writers.

With assistance from parents in supplying home-made, or at least home-created costumes, students then designed a poster of their heroes’ lives and accomplishments. The teachers assisted with a narrative.

Visitors to the “history museum” pushed a paper button on the wall next to the human exhibit, and the student began telling the story of his/her hero, speaking as if they were that person.

Sally Ride, Mark Twain, Orville Wright, Susan B. Allen, Billy Jean King, Eleanor Roosevelt, Betsy Ross. Anybody who was anybody in U.S. history was represented.

The only living hero was primatologist Jane Goodall, Hall said.

Instead of just reading about these famous people, the students researched and “became” famous — at least for the afternoon.