Kids 'host' famous guests Students create papier-mache dinner featuring eight well-known figures. Sunday, May 13, 2007 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times LOPATCONG TWP. | With the help of two artists, middle school students threw a dinner party of historical proportions. Students from grades five through eight crafted a papier-mache dinner featuring eight guests from King Tut to Yao Ming. Marco Giammetti and Carol Hendrickson, who live in Freehold, N.J., guided the students in creating the life-sized figures. The students also scripted and recorded an accompanying dinner conversation among the historical figures. Among the imaginary attendees were Salvador Dali, Sitting Bull and Rosa Parks. Lopatcong Superintendent Mike Rossi said it's all part of giving students a well-rounded education. "It's about prodding students with a lot of different opportunities," Rossi said. "The arts are beneficial to students across the board." Rossi met Giammetti and Hendrickson when he worked in the Hillsborough Township School District. "I knew they would bring a high level of expertise," Rossi said. "It gives the students an opportunity to reach their potential through expression of their individual talents." Giammetti and Hendrickson are part of the Spiritree organization; a group that works with educators to tie everyday curriculum into the arts. Hendrickson said she and her husband spent 10 days working with the Lopatcong students. "The kids had to research the people and research what the people would eat," Hendrickson said. "They developed the questions and answers regarding what one figure would ask another." Hendrickson said the student-generated info was turned into a script that was recorded. "When someone goes to visit this presentation they listen to this table conversation," Hendrickson said. Hendrickson described this endeavor as a form of installation art. Students learn research skills, develop their creativity and learn how to work in a group. "They are learning art techniques and learning them well enough to use them in the future," she said. Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com. © 2007 The Express-Times. Used with permission.