K–1 Literacy Extensions Overview

The K–1 Literacy Extensions Program is an enrichment program designed to develop young learners' critical and creative thinking skills through engaging, hands-on activities that extend beyond the traditional language arts curriculum. Using the Primary Education Thinking Skills (PETS™) curriculum, students explore higher-level thinking through stories, discussions, problem-solving challenges, and creative tasks. PETS focuses on developing convergent, divergent, evaluative, and visual/spatial thinking skills while nurturing curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning. Students learn through six memorable thinking characters, each representing a different way of thinking and solving problems.

Students meet once a week for 45 minutes throughout the year and participate in activities that strengthen:

• Critical and creative thinking

• Oral communication and discussion skills

• Vocabulary development

• Reading comprehension

• Problem-solving and reasoning

• Collaboration and teamwork

• Creativity and imagination

The program encourages students to ask thoughtful questions, consider multiple solutions, justify their thinking, and develop confidence as independent learners. Lessons are designed to be engaging, challenging, and accessible while helping identify and nurture advanced potential.

K–3 Math Extensions Program Overview

The K–3 Math Extensions Program is an enrichment program that provides students with opportunities to explore mathematics beyond grade-level expectations through challenging, hands-on experiences that promote deep mathematical thinking. Rather than accelerating students through future grade-level standards, Math Extensions focuses on extending and enriching mathematical concepts through problem-solving, logic, reasoning, and real-world applications.

Students meet once a week for 45 minutes throughout the year and participate in activities such as:

• Mathematical investigations

• Logic puzzles and brain teasers

• Strategy games

• STEM and engineering challenges

• Pattern exploration

• Spatial reasoning activities

• Open-ended problem-solving tasks

• Collaborative math projects

The program emphasizes the development of the 4 Cs of 21st Century Learning:

• Critical Thinking

• Creativity

• Communication

• Collaboration

Students are encouraged to explain their reasoning, explore multiple solution paths, take intellectual risks, and persevere through challenging problems. The goal is to foster a positive mathematical mindset while helping students become confident, flexible thinkers who enjoy exploring complex ideas.

Through engaging and meaningful experiences, the K–3 Math Extensions Program helps students discover that mathematics is not just about finding answers—it is about asking questions, making connections, and thinking deeply about the world around them.