Wednesday, Sept. 5
Picnic at Holmes Park for all ALPHA students during 4th period
Team-building activities & lunch together
Assignment: none
Thursday, Sept. 6
Temperatures & Introductions
Course expectations
Begin Creativity unit: Connect the Dots; Animal Rhymes
Assignment: Get signature on "ALPHA Things to Know" -- due Monday, Sept. 10
Monday, Sept. 10
Temperatures & Names
Technology survey; collect signature slips
Defining Creativity: GOILS, Torrance, von Oech
Try it: 1+1=1
Multiple Intelligences & their connections to creativity
Assignment: none
Thursday, Sept. 13
Temperatures & Names
Activity: Toxic River
Mental Locks to Creativity (von Oech)
Assignment: none
Monday, Sept. 17
Temperatures & Names
Mental Locks to Creativity, continued
Assignment: none
Thursday, Sept. 20
Temperatures & Names
Hotline TV Show
Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT)
Activity: Building Towers
Assignment: none
Monday, Sept. 24
Temperatures & Names
Evaluating/scoring TTCT
Revisit: Building Towers
Assignment: Reflection on Creativity -- due Thursday, Oct. 4, for extra credit OR Monday, Oct. 8, for regular credit
Thursday, Sept. 27
Temperatures & Names
Schedule changes
Creative Writing Activity
Assignment: Reflection on Creativity -- due Thursday, Oct. 4, for extra credit OR Monday, Oct. 8, for regular credit
Monday, Oct. 1
Temperatures & Names
Two video clips on the meaning of giftedness + discussion about the videos
Assignment: Reflection on Creativity -- due Thursday, Oct. 4, for extra credit OR Monday, Oct. 8, for regular credit
Thursday, Oct. 4
Temperatures & Names
Brainstorming on the definition of giftedness
Similes and metaphors about giftedness
Bell curve & intelligence
Asynchronous development
Assignment: Reflection on Creativity -- due today for extra credit OR Monday, Oct. 8, for regular credit
Monday, Oct. 8
Temperatures & Names
Turn in Reflection on Creativity
Sharing similes and metaphors about giftedness
View and discuss series of cartoons related to giftedness
Assignment: Poster containing and depicting your simile/metaphor about giftedness -- due Thursday
Thursday, Oct. 11
Temperatures & Names
Share and self-evaluate posters
Discuss a one-size-fits-all education and how to avoid this
High achievers, gifted learners, and creative thinkers -- handout and discussion
Assignment: Finish marking handout above
Monday, Oct. 15
No class: Ms. Connelly gone to ITAG conference
Thursday, Oct. 18
Temperatures
High achievers, gifted learners, and creative thinkers -- continue discussion
Present flowchart: How did I get in ALPHA?
Autonomous Learner Model -- presentation and discussion
Start "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" activity
Assignment: Write your name + names of 11 guests (total of 12) on skinny sticky notes -- due Monday
Monday, Oct. 22
Temperatures
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Seat guests
Share with a partner
Determine menu, attire, 3 topics of conversation, and after-dinner activity(ies); include explanations of WHY for each
Assignment: Finish Guess Who's Coming to Dinner assignment -- due Thursday
Thursday, Oct. 25
Temperatures
Share "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"
Define "eminent"
Brainstorm eminent people
Assignment: Decide whom you want to portray for Images of Greatness -- due Thursday, Nov. 1 (first come, first served -- no duplicates allowed!)
Monday, Oct. 29
Temperatures
Continue with brainstorming of eminent people, discussing their gifts and talents, as well as people's use of their gifts and talents for both positive and negative outcomes
Watch short video clip of previous year's Images of Greatness
Distribute Images of Greatness packets, and fill in due dates
Assignment: Decide whom you want to portray for Images of Greatness -- due Thursday
Assignment: Buy 4x6" notecards -- due Monday
Assignment: Complete Images of Greatness pre-test -- due Monday
Thursday, Nov. 1
Temperatures
Share who you are portraying for Images of Greatness
Notetaking instructions
Media Center to start locating resources
Assignment: Buy 4x6" notecards -- due Monday
Assignment: Complete Images of Greatness pre-test -- due Monday
Monday, Nov. 5
Temperatures
Turn in and go over pre-test
Reminders about resources and notetaking
Work time in the media center on research
Assignment: Independent work as needed on research. There will be a PROGRESS CHECK on Thursday this week. Students should have 2-3 sources on their pink resource sheets, and they should be started on their notecards. Research should be completed by Monday, Nov. 26.
Thursday, Nov. 8
Temperatures
Work time in the media center on research
Progress Check Today!
Assignment: Independent work as needed on research. The next progress check will be Thursday, Nov. 15. Research should be completed by Monday, Nov. 26.
Monday, Nov. 12
Temperatures
Work time in the media center on research
Assignment: Independent work as needed on research. The next progress check will be on Thursday this week. Students should have 5-6 sources on their pink resource sheets, and they should be about halfway done with their notecards. Research should be completed by Monday, Nov. 26.
Thursday, Nov. 15
Temperatures
Work time in the media center on research
Progress Check Today!
Assignment: Independent work as needed on research. Research should be mostly completed by Monday, Nov. 26. There will be a progress check on that day. Students should have 10 sources on their pink resource sheets, and they should be done or very nearly done with their notecards.
Monday, Nov. 19
Knowledge Master Open: Practice Round (periods 4 & 5)
Assignment: Independent work as needed on research. Research should be mostly completed by Monday, Nov. 26. There will be a progress check on that day. Students should have 10 sources on their pink resource sheets, and they should be done or very nearly done with their notecards.
Thursday, Nov. 22
No School: Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, Nov. 26
Temperatures
Set up report in Google Docs; hints and guidelines for report, cover page, & bibliography
Work time on report writing or finishing research
PROGRESS CHECK #3 today!
Assignment: Independent work on report writing. Report (also including cover page, bibliography, and notes) is due Thursday, Dec. 13, (or Monday, Dec. 10, for extra credit). There will be a progress check on Thursday, Dec. 6, at which time students should be MORE THAN HALF DONE with their report.
Thursday, Nov. 29
Temperatures
Work time on report writing
Assignment: Independent work on report writing. Report (also including cover page, bibliography, and notes) is due Thursday, Dec. 13, (or Monday, Dec. 10, for extra credit). There will be a progress check on Thursday, Dec. 6, at which time students should be MORE THAN HALF DONE with their report.
Monday, Dec. 3
Knowledge Master Open competition -- periods 1 & 2
Assignment: Independent work on report writing. Report (also including cover page, bibliography, and notes) is due Thursday, Dec. 13, (or Monday, Dec. 10, for extra credit). There will be a progress check on Thursday, Dec. 6, at which time students should be MORE THAN HALF DONE with their report.
Thursday, Dec. 6
Temperatures
Work time on report writing
PROGRESS CHECK #4 -- students should be more than half done with their report
Assignment: Independent work on report writing. Report (also including cover page, bibliography, and notes) is due Thursday, Dec. 13, (or Monday, Dec. 10, for extra credit).
Monday, Dec. 10
Temperatures
Media Center: Last work day on report
Report due today for extra credit
Assignment: Report (also including cover page, bibliography, and notes) is due THURSDAY!
Thursday, Dec. 13
Temperatures
Turn in reports & notes
Press Conference practice
Introduction to Learning Centers
Learning Center plan sheets
Assignment: Learning Center plan sheet due Thursday, Jan. 3
Monday, Dec. 17
Temperatures
Press Conference practice
Learning Center examples; Learning Center checklist
Introduction to Bio Riddles
Assignment: Learning Center plan sheet due Thursday, Jan. 3
Assignment: Bio Riddle due Monday, Jan. 7
Wednesday, Dec. 19
Temperatures
Press Conference practice
Discuss Learning Centers and Bio Riddles
Begin thinking about costume and food
Work time on Learning Center plan sheets and Bio Riddles
Assignment: Learning Center plan sheet due Thursday, Jan. 3
Assignment: Bio Riddle due Monday, Jan. 7
Thursday, Jan. 3
Temperatures
Press Conference practice
Share and turn in Learning Center plan sheets
Research/report rubrics are returned to students
Media Center for work time on Bio Riddle and corrections to Google Doc
Assignment: Bio Riddle due Monday, Jan. 7
Assignment: Google Doc corrections due Monday, Jan. 7
Assignment: Plan sheet for food and costume due Thursday, Jan. 10
Assignment: Bio Riddle memorized by Monday, Jan. 14
Monday, Jan. 7
Temperatures
Share and turn in Bio Riddles
Review requirements for Learning Center
Media Center for work time on Learning Center elements
Assignment: Plan sheet for food and costume due Thursday, Jan. 10
Assignment: Bio Riddle memorized by Monday, Jan. 14
Assignment: Learning center, food, and costume due Tuesday, Jan. 22
Thursday, Jan. 10
Temperatures
Share and turn in plan sheets for food and costume
Press Conference practice
Bio Riddles are returned with comments
Bio Riddle practice
Assignment: Make table tent notecard for food -- due Monday, Jan. 14
Assignment: Bio Riddle on notecard provided -- due Monday, Jan. 14
Assignment: Bio Riddle memorized -- due Monday, Jan. 14
Assignment: Learning center, food, and costume -- due Tuesday, Jan. 22
Monday, Jan. 14
Temperatures
Report progress on learning centers
Turn in food tent and bio riddle notecards
Practice bio riddles with a partner
Give memorized bio riddle in front of the class
Practice for press conference
Assignment: Print report -- due Wednesday, Jan. 16/Thursday, Jan. 17
Assignment: Learning center, food, and costume -- due Tuesday, Jan. 22
Wednesday, Jan. 16/Thursday, Jan. 17
Temperatures
Turn in printed copy of report
Bio Riddle practice
Press Conference practice
Assignment: Learning center, food, and costume -- due Tuesday, Jan. 22
Tuesday, Jan. 22
Students bring display board, table, tablecloth, and props to ALPHA room before school
Images of Greatness Rehearsal 1:00-2:45 pm in new gym at Holmes
Students return to Holmes by 6:15 pm for pictures, video, and final prep
Students should be in costume
Students should bring their food item and any electronics for their learning center
Images of Greatness event begins at 7 pm and concludes at 8:45 pm
Wednesday, Jan. 23/Thursday, Jan. 24
Temperatures
Reflection and evaluation of Images of Greatness
Discuss acceleration opportunities (in conjunction with scheduling for next year)
Assignment: Images of Greatness written reflection -- due Monday, Jan. 28
Monday, Jan. 28/Thursday, Jan. 31
Temperatures
Turn in Images of Greatness written reflection
Watch video clips from Images of Greatness
Read and discuss article "Top 10 Ways to Annoy a Gifted Child"
Monday, Feb. 4
Temperatures & Announcements
Introduce new unit: "What's Your Opinion?"
Prewriting Activity: Defining "Debate"
Sustaining a Debate
Define give and take
Argument Game
Persuasive Language
Define proposition and opposition
Handout on persuasive words and convincing phrases
Practice
Teen Ink article
Assignment: Teen Ink article -- due Thursday
Thursday, Feb. 7
Temperatures & Announcements
Discuss Teen Ink article
Review terms from last time
Define and learn how to develop an argument
Assertion
Reasoning
Evidence
Conclusion
(AREC-A)
Define refutation
Assignment: Constructing an Argument handout -- due Monday
Monday, Feb. 11
Temperatures & Announcements
Sharing of arguments
Review terms from last time
Refutation Game
Define debate
Using reasoning to support an argument
Example
Analogy
Cause & Effect
Cost vs. Benefits
Deduce the Reasoning activity
Assignment: None
Thursday, Feb. 14
Temperatures & Announcements
Continue "Deduce the Reasoning" activity
Topic brainstorming for upcoming in-depth discussions
Assignment: None
Monday, Feb. 18
Temperatures & Announcements
Unit goals and expectations
Narrowing of discussion topics -- from 143 down to 12
Brief introduction of ALPHA Fair project
Assignment: ALPHA Fair topic brainstorming sheet -- due Thursday
Thursday, Feb. 21
Temperatures & Announcements
Sharing of ALPHA Fair topic brainstorming sheets
Topic voting
Fallacies in reasoning
Fallacy detective activity
Assignment: Finish fallacy detective activity sheet -- due Monday
Assignment: Determine ALPHA Fair project topic -- due Thursday
Monday, Feb. 25
Temperatures & Announcements
Review fallacy detective activity
Review & assess terminology
Discuss Leadership & Roles in Groups
Assignment: Determine ALPHA Fair project topic -- due Thursday
Thursday, Feb. 28
Temperatures & Announcements
Develop discussion guidelines
ALPHA Fair Project Info:
Topic Sharing
H.O.T.S. & Bloom's Taxonomy
Scoring Rubric
Planning Stages -- Topic Web, Goal Statement, HOTS Statement, Task List
Assignment: ALPHA Fair project planning stages handout -- due Thursday, March 7
Monday, March 4
Temperatures & Announcements
Evaluating reliability of sources
Using SIRS and Gale InfoTrac
Assignment: ALPHA Fair project planning stages handout -- due Thursday
Thursday, March 7
Temperatures & Announcements
Media Center for research on current issue topic #1
Assignment: Post ONE article/website link and a 2-3 sentence summary on http://padlet.com/wall/alphacurrentissue1 by 8 p.m. Sunday. Be SURE to include your name on your post!!!
Assignment: KWL sheet for current issue topic #1 -- due Monday
Assignment: Begin working on research for ALPHA Fair project
Monday, March 11
Temperatures & Announcements
Class discussion on current issue topic #1
Assignment: Work on research for ALPHA Fair project
Thursday, March 14
Temperatures & Announcements
Class discussion on current issue topic #1
Assignment: Self-Evaluation for current issue topic #1 -- due Monday
Assignment: Work on research for ALPHA Fair project
Monday, March 18
Spring Break!
Thursday, March 21
Spring Break!
Monday, March 25
Temperatures & Announcements
Return KWL sheets; turn in self-evaluation sheets
ALPHA Fair project -- topic share, work time in media center
Assignment: Continue to work on ALPHA Fair project
Thursday, March 28
Report directly to computer lab
Announcements
Return self-evaluation sheets
ALPHA Fair project -- work time
Assignment: ALPHA Fair progress check #1 -- due MONDAY
Assignment: Continue to work on ALPHA Fair project
Monday, April 1
Temperatures & Announcements
Media Center for research on current issue topic #2 (Gun Control)
Assignment: Post ONE article/website link and a 2-3 sentence summary on http://padlet.com/wall/alphacurrentissue2 by 8 P.M. WEDNESDAY. Be SURE to include your name on your post!!!
Assignment: KWL sheet for current issue topic #2 -- due THURSDAY in class
Assignment: Continue to work on ALPHA Fair project
Thursday, April 4
Temperatures & Announcements
Class discussion on current issue topic #2 (Gun Control)
Assignment: Update KWL sheet as needed -- will turn KWL sheet and source list in on MONDAY
Assignment: Continue to work on ALPHA Fair project
Monday, April 8
Temperatures & Announcements
Distribute handouts and assignments for the coming two weeks
Continued class discussion on current issue topic #2 (Gun Control)
Assignment: Self-Evaluation for current issue topic #2 -- due THURSDAY
Assignment: Continue to work on ALPHA Fair project
Thursday, April 11
Temperatures & Announcements
Return KWL sheets; Turn in Self-Evaluation
Lesson: Citing sources for the ALPHA Fair project
Work time in media center on ALPHA Fair project
Assignment: Learning Center Plan Sheet -- due MONDAY
Assignment: ALPHA Fair Progress Check #2 (research mostly done) -- due MONDAY
Assignment: Permission Slip for ALPHA Next Year (7th/8th only) and Permission Slip for Service Day/Lock-In + $5 (all grades) -- due Thursday, April 18
Assignment: ALPHA Fair project -- due Thursday, May 2
Monday, April 15
Temperatures & Announcements
Turn in Learning Center plan sheet & ALPHA Fair Progress Check #2
Work time in media center on ALPHA Fair project
Assignment: Permission Slip for ALPHA Next Year (7th/8th only) and Permission Slip for Service Day/Lock-In + $5 (all grades) -- due THURSDAY
Assignment: ALPHA Fair project -- due Thursday, May 2
Thursday, April 18
Announcements
Turn in permission slips and $5
Knowledge Master Open: Spring Competition
Assignment: ALPHA Fair project -- due Thursday, May 2
Monday, April 22
Temperatures & Announcements
Media Center for research on current issue topic #3 (Gender & Sexuality)
Assignment: Post ONE article/website link and a 2-3 sentence summary on http://padlet.com/wall/alphacurrentissue3 by 8 P.M. WEDNESDAY. Be SURE to include your name on your post!
Assignment: KWL sheet for current issue topic #3 -- due THURSDAY in class
Assignment: ALPHA Fair project -- due Thursday, May 2
Thursday, April 25
Temperatures & Announcements
Class discussion on current issue topic #3 (Gender & Sexuality)
Assignment: Update KWL sheet as needed -- will turn KWL sheet and source list in on MONDAY
Assignment: ALPHA Fair progress check #3 (project mostly done) -- due MONDAY
Assignment: ALPHA Fair project -- due THURSDAY
Monday, April 29
Temperatures & Announcements
Continued class discussion on current issue topic #3 (Gender & Sexuality)
Assignment: ALPHA Fair project -- due THURSDAY
Assignment: Self-Evaluation for current issue topic #3 -- due MONDAY
Assignment: Turn in research/notes, source lists, rubric, and 1-page self-reflection on ALPHA Fair project -- due MONDAY
Thursday, May 2
NO CLASS
ALPHA Fair tonight at Lincoln Elementary
Set up between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Be there 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Dress nicely
Friday, May 3
ALPHA Service Day at Camp Ingawanis
Wear old clothes, dress in layers, bring a jacket and a sack lunch
Leave at 8:55 a.m. and return at 3:00
ALPHA Lock-In
5:00-10:00 p.m. at Holmes
Monday, May 6
Temperatures & Announcements
Turn in self-evaluation on topic #3 and all ALPHA Fair materials
Media Center for research on current issue topic #4 (Abortion)
Assignment: Post ONE article/website link and a 2-3 sentence summary on http://padlet.com/wall/alphacurrentissue4 by 8 P.M. WEDNESDAY. Be SURE to include your name on your post!
Assignment: KWL sheet for current issue topic #4 -- due THURSDAY in class
Assignment: ALPHA Fair Follow-up Sheet -- due THURSDAY
Assignment: Extra Credit due Monday, May 20
Thursday, May 9
Temperatures & Announcements
Turn in ALPHA Fair Follow-up Sheet
Class discussion on current issue topic #4 (Abortion)
Assignment: Update KWL sheet as needed -- will turn KWL sheet and source list in on MONDAY
Assignment: Extra Credit due Monday, May 20
Monday, May 13
Temperatures & Announcements
Continued class discussion on current issue topic #4 (Abortion)
Assignment: Self-Evaluation for current issues discussion unit -- due THURSDAY
Assignment: Extra Credit due Monday, May 20
Thursday, May 16
Temperatures & Announcements
ALPHA Year Chronology
Year in Review self-reflection
Sign up for Year in Review conference time
Media Center: ALPHA program evaluation
Assignment: Year in Review self-reflection -- due at your conference time next week
Assignment: Extra Credit due Monday, May 20
Monday, May 20
Last day of ALPHA Class
All extra credit due TODAY
Temperatures & Announcements
Year-end activity: Why Man Creates
Assignment: Year in Review self-reflection -- due at your conference time this week
Tuesday, May 21 - Friday, May 24
Individually scheduled Year in Review conferences with Ms. Connelly