The students apply research skills to construct timelines, biographical sketches, and diagrams of famous buildings. They use many different research sources, including books, encyclopedias, the Internet, magazines, and newspapers. The students learn about a variety of historical and cultural issues by integrating anniversaries or other special dates with their daily study. The students participate in an American Sign Language poetry contest in honor of Marie Philip. They host two special events, inviting special guests from Gallaudet University and the Washington, D.C., community to give performances and presentations.
Students learn to appreciate the unique skills and talents of both deaf and hearing people.
To learn about the metro Washington, D.C., area, students use public transportation to visit monuments, museums, and parks in Arlington, Baltimore, Mount Vernon, and downtown Washington. Learning through doing is stressed and encouraged. For science, the students keep learning logs to record scientific observations and make hypotheses. They study guinea pigs, rabbits, finches, butterflies, and gerbils, all of which live in the classroom. The students record data in the logs, such as changes in size and weight, and the type and volume of food consumed, and make daily or weekly observations of the animals.