Stretching The Brain
What we are up to....
Each student is encouraged to create projects/presentations on a topic of personal interest. Projects are meant to encourage communication, articulation, imagination, engaging presentments, and giving/receiving constructive criticism. Students are encouraged to take more ownership in learning in areas of personal interest and to realize personal talents. Along the way we are learning about 'clickbait', how to be responsible when researching, and how to determine fake information. Asking the question "Is this possible, does this make sense, is this a good/trustable resource, does this apply to the question I am trying to answer or the information I am seeking".
We will start 2023-2024 as follows:
~Third graders will be reading "The Tiger Rising"
~Fourth graders will be reading "Tuck Everlasting" and creating a NC Flag mosaic using Rubik's Cubes.
~Fifth graders will be building their own cities and reading "The Raven".
Geometrocity
Fifth graders are working on creating their version of the perfect city.
Hexbug Habitats
Which Hexbug will survive/adapt in the most habitats/biomes?
With Understanding Comes Calm Blog
Research Based articles/resources for parents of gifted and talented students
3M Young Scientist Video Challenge Contest: for 5th grade and higher
www. educationaladvancement.org/grc/discovery-education-3m-young-scientist-challenge
13 Executive Functions Vlog from Seth Perler (Neurodivergence, ADHD, 2e(Twice Exceptional)
Executive Function Skills Checklist and Tracker
https://www.anewdaysa.com/checklistandtracker
20 Free Apps for Executive Functioning Skill Deficits (adults and students)
https://adayinourshoes.com/apps-executive-functioning-adults-students/
Games for Gifted:
Divergent Thinking: (generating many possible ideas/solutions) Apples to Apples, Scrabble, and Scattegories
Convergent Thinking: (logic & deduction: develops math skills & foward thinking strategies) Quirkle, Mastermind, and SET
Visual/Spatial Thinking: (mentally "seeining" & manipulating in one's mind) Blokus & Camelot Jr.
Fifth Graders practice multiplication, division, and fraction to decimal with pi. Students traced a circle, measured the diameter, multiplied by pi, cut string that length and then tested on the original three dimensional object for accuracy. Lots of math going on at one time. :)
Fourth graders compete throughout the year through NASA STEM challenges. Fourth graders read Science Fiction stories and this year Tryon is tackling their own Science Fiction play. Each school has a NASA STEM package introducing the different types of engineers needed for space travel and a possible new colonization in space.
What does "gifted" really mean?
"Children are 'gifted' when their cognitive and reasoning ability is significantly above the norm for their age, and those abilities may manifest in one or more areas: intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership, or in a specific academic field such as language arts, mathematics or science. ...being the parent or educator of a gifted child can be exciting, but it can also have its challenges. Contrary to what many people believe, these high achievers will not always continue to be rising stars if left on their own. They may possess some amazing academic strengths, but may also need help in other areas."
"Gifted children's development depends on people understanding them." ~ Linda Silverman, PhD
Gifted Learners and Executive Learning:
https://www.nagc.org/gifted-learners-and-executive-functioning
https://raisinglifelonglearners.com/executive-functioning-activities-for-small-children/
The Engineering Process:
First graders during Enrichment time have been constructing a horse for their gingerbread men, a sled for a snowman, and a 10 minute hat.
Second graders are learning about George Washington Carver (planting seeds), and George W. Ferris and his quest to make the Ferris Wheel bigger and better than the Eiffel Tower for the Chicago World's fair (making a Ferris wheel)
Third grade is learning origami (tigers, cranes) and beginning to use the Rubik's Cube for math concepts.
Learning Boosters ~
First through Fifth Grade each have a grade level/school specific Google classroom for learning collaboration and a CommonLit. org account for taking ownership in learning with articles geared toward personal interest while working on grade level reading standards above current grade level.
