GIPS Students Bring History to Life in Deaf Awareness Month Wax Museum

Belonging means finding your voice even if it’s silent, and learning that others have led the way for you to share. 

For students learning to speak, celebrate, and perform through American Sign Language (ASL), stepping into the stories of famous folks who’ve lived with hearing loss has helped them feel seen. 

In celebration of Deaf Awareness Month, the GIPS Hard of Hearing (DHH) program brought history and advocacy to life through an interactive Wax Museum held at Stolley Park Elementary in September. 

The interactive event showcased research and performance projects from students at Elementary, Middle, and High School grade levels. Each student chose a historical figure or present day celebrity who has lived with hearing loss to learn their story.  Through research projects and creative tri-fold displays, the students then stepped “into character” to share their knowledge as if it were a firsthand account.

The student displays and storytelling filled the Stolley Park gym as families and district staff members enjoyed the museum experience. 

Uniting elementary, middle, and high school learners across GIPS, the event provided a platform for students to demonstrate research skills and creative expression together under one roof. 

The focus of the project:  Fostering belonging and empowering our students’ experiences through the stories of others. 
 

Morgan Wheeler, an educator in the GIPS Deaf and Hard of Hearing program, affirmed the project and its connection to helping students feel seen. 

"We really wanted students to be able to identify different deaf adults and the different modes of communication that everybody uses in the deaf community. Learn about the deaf community, and just how different everyone is. Everyone’s got a unique story and a unique path to getting to where they are."

The presentations highlighted the students' growing communication skills, with each presentation delivered entirely in American Sign Language (ASL) or through a blend of ASL and spoken English to reflect the diverse communication pathways within the deaf community.

Preparation for the Wax Museum began three weeks prior as students explored the connection with Deaf Awareness Month. Along with researching biographical facts, the project challenged students to examine the diverse communication methods used across the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.  

With “Be Here. Belong.” serving as the GIPS district focus for the school year, the DHH program felt the creativity and stories found in the project would be a strong connection to students strengthening their sense of belonging at school.  And, of course, bring a lot of fun to their learning experiences.  After all, it’s not every day you get to pretend to be The Incredible Hulk, or an Oscar winner, or a Kidz Bop star, or even a Police Officer.  But for the students, these stories carried greater weight. 

"We want our students to always feel like they're not here in isolation.” Wheeler reflected. “Getting to learn about all the wonderful things that some of these people have accomplished in their lives really provides them that sense that they can also do amazing things." 

#BeHereBelong