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: Pre-writing reflection on service/volunteering (salmon-colored paper) -- due Thursday, Oct. 4
Assignment: Reflection on Creativity -- due Thursday, Oct. 4, for extra credit OR Monday, Oct. 8, for regular credit
Thursday, Oct. 4
Temperatures & Names
Discussion of pre-reflection on service/volunteering
Introduction to Making a Difference project
Paper heart activity
Perspectives on Youth Service presentation
Assignment: Reflection on Creativity -- due today for extra credit OR Monday, Oct. 8, for regular credit
Assignment: Signatures on Making a Difference project sheet -- due Thursday, Oct. 11
Monday, Oct. 8
Turn in Reflection on Creativity
Guest speaker: Jean Seeland, Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley -- notes due at the end of class
Assignment: Signatures on Making a Difference project sheet -- due Thursday, Oct. 11
Thursday, Oct. 11
Temperatures & Names
Turn in signatures on Making a Difference project sheet
Information about press-release format of Making a Difference project proposal
Brainstorming and sharing of possible Making a Difference project ideas
Distribution of Making a Difference project logs
Reminders about Making a Difference project expectations
Assignment: Press-release project proposals due Monday, Oct. 29, at the very latest. Remember that you cannot begin counting your service project hours until your proposal has been submitted AND APPROVED. Plan ahead!!!!! Your service hours must be completed by the end of November.
Monday, Oct. 15
No ALPHA class: Ms. Connelly at annual ITAG conference in Des Moines
Thursday, Oct. 18
Temperatures & Names
Show sample press release proposal for Making a Difference project
Reminders about log and journal for Making a Difference project
Begin "Service Over the Years" project in Media Center
Assignment: Press-release project proposals due Monday, Oct. 29, at the very latest. Remember that you cannot begin counting your service project hours until your proposal has been submitted AND APPROVED. Plan ahead!!!!! Your service hours must be completed by the end of November.
Monday, Oct. 22
Temperatures & Names
Work time on "Service Over the Years" in Media Center
Assignment: Finish "Service Over the Years" (3 synopsis sheets + 1 extra credit) -- due Thursday
Assignment: Project Proposals (press-release format) -- due Monday
Thursday, Oct. 25
Temperatures & Names
Share and discuss "Service Over the Years" findings; turn in synopsis sheets
Review expectations for "Making a Difference" project
Assignment: Project Proposals (press-release format) -- due Monday
Monday, Oct. 29
Temperatures & Names
Turn in project proposals
Share project plans with class
Introduce "People of Service" assignment
Work time in media center on "People of Service" assignment
Assignment: "People of Service" -- due Monday (will have work time in class on Thursday)
Thursday, Nov. 1
Temperatures & Names
Work time in media center on "People of Service" assignment
Assignment: "People of Service" -- due Monday
Monday, Nov. 5
Temperatures & Names
Hand out and go over Making a Difference project rubric
Sharing of "People of Service" assignment
Assignment: Independent work on Making a Difference project; progress check (log AND journal) on Thursday, Nov. 15
Thursday, Nov. 8
Guest presentation: Simulation
Assignment: Independent work on Making a Difference project; progress check (log AND journal) on Thursday, Nov. 15
Monday, Nov. 12
Temperatures & Names
Many announcements
"Service learning" presentation and discussion
Group sharing of progress on Making a Difference projects
Assignment: Independent work on Making a Difference project; progress check (log AND journal) on Thursday!
Thursday, Nov. 15
Temperatures & Names
Conclude service learning quadrant exercise
Hints & suggestions for project presentations (including Prezi introduction)
Work time in Media Center on presentations
Progress check on log AND journal
Assignment: Independent work on Making a Difference project & presentation; presentations begin Dec. 6.
Monday, Nov. 19
Knowledge Master Open: Practice Round (periods 4 & 5)
Assignment: Independent work on Making a Difference project; progress check (log AND journal) on Thursday!
Thursday, Nov. 22
No School: Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, Nov. 26
Temperatures
Advice for completing a successful presentation, reminder of due dates, etc.
Work time in media center on Making a Difference project presentation
Thursday, Nov. 29
Temperatures
Handout giving reminders about creating a successful presentations, outlining due dates, etc.
Work time in media center on Making a Difference project presentation
Assignment: Presentations begin Thursday, Dec. 6, and conclude on Monday, Dec. 17. Students have drawn their presentation dates and times at random. These may not be changed, and the student is responsible for knowing when their presentation is. Service-learning journal and log DUE at the time of the presentation. Self-reflection & self-evaluation due the ALPHA class day immediately following the presentation.
Monday, Dec. 3
Knowledge Master Open competition -- periods 1 & 2
Assignment: See Thursday, Nov. 29
Thursday, Dec. 6
Presentations begin today!
Audience members fill out feedback forms on presentations
Monday, Dec. 10
Presentations today
Audience members fill out feedback forms
Thursday, Dec. 13
Presentations today
Audience members fill out feedback forms
Monday, Dec. 17
Presentations today
Audience members fill out feedback forms
Thursday, Dec. 20
SNOW DAY
Thursday, Jan. 3
Watch the first 40 minutes of Pay It Forward
Monday, Jan. 7
Watch the next 49 minutes of Pay It Forward
Thursday, Jan. 10
No Class: Last day of semester
Monday, Jan. 14
Watch last 34 minutes of Pay It Forward
Begin film discussion
Thursday, Jan. 17
Temperatures
Continue film discussion
Wrap up service-learning unit
Preview of coming events
Assignment: Summative Reflection (concept definition of volunteerism & paragraph reflection on quote) -- due Monday, Jan. 28. Worth 30 points.
Monday, Jan. 21
No School: MLK Jr. Day
Thursday, Jan. 24
Simulation experience with guest facilitator -- meet in Room 1 for periods 5 & 6. Attendance required both periods.
Thursday, Jan. 31
Temperatures
Turn in summative reflection assignment
Wrap up discussion on simulation experience
Acceleration information (in conjunction with scheduling for next year's classes)
Stay-cation brainstorming
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