The labs found here were originally created by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) as a remote learning resource for advanced learners across the state.
Durham Public Schools Department of Advanced Academics has taken NCDPI’s original labs and has restructured them so that they are housed in one location and can be easily and efficiently by content area and grade band, as well as the overarching concept.
Eight content areas: ELA, Field Studies, Logic Puzzles, Math, Mindfulness, Science, Social Studies, and Research Exploration
Six different grade bands: K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 and 10-12
Fifteen different overarching concepts: Adaptation, Balance, Conflict, Creativity, Diversity, Energy, Growth, Identity, Interactions, Interdependence, Movement, Perspective, Structure, Systems and Time
Each lab for a content area can be viewed at glance for the grade band selected. From there, each lab is linked to a more detailed, scaffolded view via the concept. In addition, there are pages with additional virtual resources from NCDPI, as well as an excel sheet of how the NCSCOS standards align to the labs (by which labs can be filtered/sorted by standard, as well as the overarching concept).
The purpose of this site is to help teachers extend, accelerate &/or enrich their students’ learning, using the labs as a starting block.
Teachers can do this in a variety of ways, such as:
Using the labs as an introductory activity or hook at the beginning of a unit
Using the labs as a final project as the culmination of a unit of study
Assigning individual labs to students, differentiating by student need and interest
Utilizing mindfulness, logic, field studies &/or research exploration activities for Wellness Wednesday’s &/or Flexible Friday’s
Creating choice boards or hyperdocs using the different labs
In addition to the labs, teachers can utilize the Additional Remote Learning Resources, listed menu to the left. These resources are organized by grade band (K-5, 6-8 and 9-12) and give direct links to other remote learning resources from NCDPI that might be useful to teachers and/or interesting to students in an effort to extend, accelerate and enrich their learning.
