What happens at PEEP?

Here at PEEP (Primary and Elementary Education Program), we use a problem-based learning approach to ignite curiosity and build knowledge.  In addition to the academic areas, we work to help students navigate the social and emotional aspects of giftedness in a high-energy environment. Students are grouped by age with peers from across the district and meet once a cycle.  K-3 students are seen for two and a half hours a cycle, while students in grades four & five are seen for five hours per cycle.  Everyday support is provided by the homeschool classroom teacher. Below are a few examples of projects and curriculum topics we have used in the past.

K2 Curriculum

This curriculum operates on a cycle.  Units are thematically based, encompassing the areas of math, science, language arts, and social studies.Units of Study :
  • Cryptography
This unit focuses on various types of codes (ciphers, sign language, Jefferson Wheel) and the importance they played in sharing information. Students will have the opportunity to create their own code and present it to the group.
  • Character Counts - Teaching Character thru Literature
How do characters handle BIG emotions? How can we handle our emotions as gifted learners? Through literature we will identify these emotions and the choices characters made - evaluating how their choice impacted the outcome. A "Choose Your Own Adventure" project will engage learners and encourage the development of critical thinking through analysis and comparison of these traits.
  • Dinosaurs
We will dig deep in this unit as students we investigate these prehistoric creatures. Students will compare and contrast various traits of dinosaurs while working together to research a dinosaur of their choosing. Using their newfound knowledge, they will apply concepts to create their own dinosaur and present it to the class.
  • Language Study
Get ready to travel the world as we investigate languages and cultures on this whirlwind trip! Each week we will investigate a new language by learning key phrases, places of interest, cultural aspects, and cuisine.
  • Africa
The amazing geography, wildlife, artwork and music of Africa will be some of the areas we focus on as we investigate this fascinating continent.Cycle Year 2 Units of Study :
  • Our Earth/Rocks and Minerals
  • National Parks
  • Character Counts - The Six Pillars of Character
  • East Asia (focus on Japan)
  • Space: Outta This World!
Get ready to travel the galaxy with us! Comets, Black Holes, Constellations, and investigating the planets are just a few of the many areas we explore.

3rd Grade Curriculum

  • Digital Citizenship/Coding

  • STEM Challenge
This unit is designed for problem-solving and collaborative thinking. As STEM challenges are presented, students will work individually or in a small group to complete tasks. Planning, organizing, trial-and-error, and investigating are key themes for this unit.
  • Character Matters
This unit is designed to expand student comfort zones and develop oral presentation skills while developing an appreciation for theater.  Students examine problems of fairy tale creatures and brainstorm the best advice to offer for solving them.  After practicing and honing their individual oral presentation skills, students share the solutions with their friends and family in a short musical performance.
  • Iron Chef - Restaurant Creation
This unit of study is designed to enrich students with a real-world experience with developing theme. Students develop and apply the elements of theme through restaurant design.  Let the creative juices flow 'cause It's the PEEP version of Iron Chef.  Students develop a theme and learn about the restaurant business.  after designing decor, building layout, and menus, students build a 3-dimensional  representation of his or her masterpiece!  Last but not least, a taste testing competition!  
  • Egypt
Come explore the ancient Egyptian culture with us! This unit is designed to give the learner an overview of the country, location, and daily life. Through VR we will travel to Egypt and explore the Great Pyramids. Hieroglyphs, mummification, cartouches, and art will be explored.
  • Entomology - What's Buggin' You?
This study is designed to expand student's appreciation of the little-known world around us, students investigate the properties of insects, learning how to classify, discern, and recognize common traits.  Investigating both helpful and invasive insects students design and build traps based on the habits of the unwanted pests.  We don't stop there, as students extend their creative skills to design and build our own based on our studies.Sample Project

4th Grade Curriculum

Math is Fun!        This unit of study is designed to introduce students to logic and reasoning activities from various countries and cultures from around the world.  They will learn how to develop strategies for logical thinking and will be involved in several competitions with their peers.  Students will also have the opportunity to work on math activities such as: geometry and pre-algebra and also to utilize the more creative aspects of mathematics with activities on graphing, line designs, and tessellations.Math is Fun Project
Digital Citizen Superhero Training    Students learn the principles of being a solid Digital Citizen:  Smart, Safe, Courteous, Honest, and Healthy.  They analyze current events and brainstorm solutions to everyday problems in the cyber world.  Students investigate the potential hazards and pitfalls of not practicing the traits of a solid digital citizen.  We also uncover ways to make our online research time more efficient and effective as we grow from being digital consumers into digital superheros!Sample Activity
Mythology    The focus of this unit of study is for mythology to come alive as the students discover the famous myths of Greek, Roman, Norse, and Egyptian mythology.  The students will be participating in plays, reading books, viewing videos, listening to tapes, and participating in simulations to develop a base of knowledge in this area.  Once this is accomplished, creativity abounds as the students design their culminating mythology project and put their knowledge to use in a simulation on mythology.Here is a link to a sample mythologyproject. Sample ProjectSample Project
Ocean Life    In this unit of study the students will be studying various types of animal and plant life living in the ocean. They will use discover saltwater ecosystems including coral reefs and deep sea life.From this base of knowledge students will develop, create, and design many projects such as: movies, plays, infographics and/or a newly discovered sea creature.  This website is a great resource for all things ocean related.Sample Project
Amazing Race World Geography    This unit of study is designed to enhance students’ understanding of world geography.  Students will engage in an Interact simulation called Caravans. In this unit of study, the PEEP class will be traveling the world in search of museum items. They will be assigned to Caravan teams that travel the world learning about latitude and longitude, cartography, research skills, languages, customs, etc.  Students will share artifacts from foreign countries and work cooperatively on group geography activities to help their caravan advance. Sample Project
It's CHOW Time (Food, Exercise Science, and the Human Body)    Students investigate the relationship between their food, body, and exercise.  We work to find the fun and importance in exercising our whole body in addition to our mind.  Sample Activity

5th Grade Curriculum

Building a Business    In this unit of study, students will learn about the concepts of starting a business. They will choose a business to run in the gifted classroom.  This unit also involves an in depth study of mode of advertising. Students will use this knowledge to create their own items such as: business cards, logos, radio and TV commercials, jingles, and billboards. As the culminating activity for this unit, students will have the opportunity to become actual businessmen and women when they participate in our PEEP Shark Tank. In the tank inspired by Shark Tank the hit ABC TV show the students will pitch their business to local business owners and CEOs.  Here is a link to a student-created website for their business.Sample Project
Shakespeare    The purpose of our Shakespeare unit is to instill in our PEEPs an appreciation and enjoyment of theater and to introduce them to the world of William Shakespeare.  Students will read a variety of Shakespeare and choose a favorite on which to base a music video.  Students will experience many different cross-curricular activities that will provide students with appreciation for the life and times of late Renaissance Elizabethan England.Romeo and Juliet

The Middle Ages    This unit is designed to enhance students' understanding of daily life and major historical events and people that shaped this time period.  This unit begins with an overview of the time line of these periods, research, and exploration of individual topics.  Throughout, the emphasis on content gives students an understanding of life during these times.  Learners will experience a rich, multimedia, inquiry-based approach to the subject matter and be responsible for crafting a research project of their own design. Royal Medieval Fashion
Roller Coaster Physics    In an effort to better understand the world around them, students begin an exploration of Sir Issac Newton and his 3 laws of Motion.  During our study of physics students will experiment with three-dimensional models of skate park equipment to explore the physics of skateboarding and roller coasters.  Then, using what they have learned about potential and kinetic energy, friction, and inertia, they will design and build a cardboard working skate park!  As part of the final activity, students will send marble "skaters" through their parks, and explain how the skater and each piece of equipment demonstrate the physics of motion.Sample ActivityYour Amazing Human Body and CHOW II    In this unit, students embrace a genus-hour study investigation by choosing a topic of interest to pursue and present!Sample ProjectSample ProjectSample Project