Desert High students bring history back to life for second year Published May 28, 2014 By Jet Fabara 412th Test Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Desert Junior-Senior High School was the site of its second annual "Night at the Museum" event hosted by the students and faculty of DHS May 21. The event was an end-of-year, school-wide project where students transformed the halls of the high school, along with the school cafeteria, into static displays, living statues and interactive history exhibits. "The Desert High History department came up with this event last year and we had a lot of positive feedback from everyone who attended and participated, so we're hoping it gets bigger and bigger every year," said Shawn Lawhon, DHS Social Studies Department chair. "This interactive and hands-on research project really gets kids involved and makes them truly feel like they are a part of the historical event." According to Lawhon, every student from 7th to 12th grade was expected to participate. "Part of the project involves more than just setting up the historical scene or backdrop," Lawhon said. "They also have to research dialogue used during that era, the clothing used, and focus on a couple of things they want to showcase or re-enact. Our end goal is to make each attendee feel like they are a part of that time period while witnessing history as well." For one student, Madison Freeman, DHS sophomore, the project was something she said she was looking forward to. "It's definitely different than any other History project I've been involved with," added Freeman. "It allows us to bring back a piece of history and relive it."