Have you tried holding your very own press conference with your students? If not, this is a fun way for your class to get actively involved in learning about a particular person and embodying that person (for at least a few minutes!).

The short story on this event is that students dress up as a person they have researched, “becoming” that person during the press conference. Students are asked a series of questions (typically that they have written themselves) about the important historical figures they have studied. It’s an exciting, memorable event for students and parents alike!

We have used the press conference as an event to showcase a Medieval history unit of study. After studying the Medieval years as a class, each student chose a famous person from the time period to research, such as Charlemagne or Richard the Third. Students learned about these historical persons’ childhoods and families, significant life events, and their greatest accomplishments.

In preparation for the big event, children planned simple costumes they could wear as the famous people they’d researched. They wrote several questions that they’d like asked of them during the press conference (given certain parameters, of course). They also created name cards so that all those in attendance would know who they were.

Upon arrival at the press conference, parents were given the prepared questions, thus playing the part of reporters with the famous historical personalities responding in turn. It was a fantastic experience for children and parents alike.

I have also seen the press conference used at the end of an author study project and for studying famous people from a particular state.

All in all, holding a press conference in the classroom is an enjoyable way to showcase all of the students’ hard work and make their research presentations fun, informational, and interactive.