Astronomy: Grade 5

The Sun Through Time is a multidisciplinary two-day convocation based on the theme of solar astronomy. The attending students will participate in one of five modules investigating humans’ understanding of the sun through time with ancient cultures, sundials, telescopes, solar energy and modern solar study being the themes of focus. The convocation will culminate in a creative showcase featuring creative writing, visual art and a play.

Green Building: Grade 6

Environmentally-friendly practices are more common than ever in our society. In this two-day convocation children will learn what “green” buildings are and why the technology used within them is important. On day one, students will be separated into specialist groups where they will learn about technology in one of four areas: Energy, Indoor Environmental Quality, Materials or Water. They will take this knowledge with them on day two where four different classrooms will be assembled with all the specialists. Each classroom is tasked with drawing up plans to construct a “green” elementary school. At the end of the, day each team will present its concepts to all participating students as well as give an oral presentation on one of the areas that they learned about during the first day of the program.

Crime Scene Investigation: Grade 6

Forensic science has been a hot topic in the science classroom for the last couple of years. Solving a crime appeals to the interests of children and allows them to feel like “real” scientists. In this two-day convocation, students are exposed to a fictitious crime scene that was committed on the grounds of the Meadowlands Environment Center. On day one, the students are split up into different classrooms where they will become “specialists” in one area of forensic investigation: fiber and fragment analysis, hair and fur analysis, fingerprinting, shoe tracks and botany as well as white substance and ink analysis. On day two, the specialists are allowed into the crime scene to recover and analyze evidence. The students in each classroom must reach a conclusion by putting all the pieces of the puzzle together and later present their findings to the other students participating in the convocation.

Grade 4: Mythical Creatures

"Housing one of the most extensive collections of Ancient Near Eastern Seals and Tablets in the world, Mythical Creatures focuses on the concepts of myths and symbols found in the Morgan's exceptional collection of Mesopotamian cylinder seals. Students will investigate the origins of writing while exploring clay tablets and the ceiling of J. Pierpont Morgan's library to further discuss myths, symbols, and the history of storytelling.
Session ActivityA tour of the galleries will engage students in the observation of the imagery featured on the cylinder seals as well as on the murals of J. Pierpont Morgan's Library. These works will become the starting point for discussions on Middle Eastern and Greco-Roman myths and symbols. Students will use this imagery to discuss forms of writing and trace the connections between cuneiform on clay tablets, movable type and printed books. A hands-on activity will include the opportunity for students to apply their knowledge to design a personal seal.

Grade 5: Colors of the World

"In Colors of the World, the prevalence of literacy in today’s world is contrasted with a time when reading and access to knowledge were relegated to the few. The program instills in students a sense of value for the written word.Students will draw upon Morgan’s superb collection of illuminated manuscripts and relate them to world history in a way that will deepen their understanding of cultural identity and interaction among diverse peoples across time and place. Hands-on activities will emphasize the impact of trade with West Africa and Asia on medieval Europe’s manuscript production, as imported spices, dyes, semiprecious stones, gold, and animal matter became the basis for the illuminators’ palettes.
Session OneStudents will analyze a vast selection of painted and gilded pages and discuss material and function within their historical context. They will then determine many ways images and text interact and draw parallels with more familiar Web-design counterparts.
Session TwoStudents will reenact historical artists’ techniques and use traditional tools and ingredients to produce their own illuminations. Art supplies include saffron threads, dried insects, and malachite chips to be ground with mortar and pestle. These materials will serve as a starting point for discussions on European history and topics related to Eurasian trade routes, including geography, botany, geology, chemistry, zoology, and social history."

Grade 6: Reading a Building

Reading a Building is an exercise in visual literacy focusing on J. Pierpont Morgan's magnificent neo-Renaissance library. Students become active and critical viewers as they learn how to "read" the National Historic Landmark, comprising of Morgan's library and study, as a primary source. Students will use their observations as visual clues to understand the collector's life, interest, and his influence on the culture of New York City during the Gilded Age.
In the course of a visit, students will explore the four rooms that compose J. Pierpont Morgan's original library.A first look at the various materials, colors, furnishings, and murals will reveal the function of the spaces. A closer reading will allow students to discover Mr. Morgan's fascination with early European history and culture, the nature and scope of his core collection, and his legacy.

Hudson County

Gifted and Talented Consortium

The Hudson County Gifted and Talented Consortium forum provides education and support for teachers, administrators, and coordinators working in gifted and talented education. Monthly meetings take place and provide the opportunity to share information and further their own professional development.
Gifted and Talented Partnerships Goals

1. The purposes of the Consortium are to serve as an advocate for gifted and talented pupils and to disseminate information concerning gifted and talented education.
2. To review and exchange “Best Practices” materials.
3. To serve as a support group with materials for educators and administrators of the gifted and talented community.
4. To offer opportunities for professional networking as members of a Professional Learning Community (PLC).
5. To afford all students in Gifted and Talented education the opportunity to achieve their potential through building curricula, convocations, exhibits, and other similar activities. Creative Fest held annually is an event where fifth or sixth grade gifted students from all of Hudson County meet to attend student centered creative performance and arts workshops.

In the Mobile Food Lab students participate in a multi-sensory STEAM educational experience on wheels. They will make hands-on connections to food and healthy eating by participating in interactive activities utilizing an indoor vertical farm.

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Students fly a space mission in the challenger simulator! They work on teams to complete their mission, while conducting experiments, monitoring life support, and implementing navigation orders. In this dynamic environment, students use principles of science, mathematics, and technology to complete their tasks.
ScenariosRendezvous with Comet HalleyThe year is 2061. In orbit around the sun, between Earth and Mars, a Spacecraft moves towards its long awaited target: Halley’s Comet. It has not passed near Earth orbit since 1986. The crew must navigate towards the comet, sending a probe through the comet’s coma to analyze what gases make it up.
Return to the MoonFor the first time since 1972, a crew of astronauts is returning to the Moon, this time to stay. Students will locate the appropriate landing site to establish a permanent base on the moon. Astronauts will test their limits will surviving an alien environment. This mission will serve as a stepping stone for human planetary exploration.
Voyage to MarsThe year is 2076 and a new crew of Astronauts is being sent to Mars to relieve a crew that has inhabited the planet for the last two years. Before returning to Earth, the crew will replace an ailing weather satellite to monitor Martian weather.

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Our fifth grade students participate in a guided tour of the Ancient Egyptian gallery where students become familiar with the significance of Ancient Egyptian civilization: their government, trade, philosophies, art, music, and religion. The students analyze how powerful ideas that arose in the ancient world have profoundly shaped the course of world history and make connections to our present day world.

At the Marsh

Through discussion and instruction, students will explore the following key concepts during the salt marsh portion of the program:
Geographic orientation
Structure, function and importance of an estuary
Structure, function and importance of a salt marsh (habitat)
Human impact on the bay and marsh environment
An overview of native salt marsh plants and animals (adaptation)
An introduction to the watershed concept
Marine food webs (producer, consumer, predator)
Students will participate in the following activities while at the salt marsh:
Seining (boots, nets and buckets supplied by NJSGC)
Salt marsh orientation
Plant identification walk (conditions permitting)
Benthic sampling (conditions permitting)
Optional activity (require advance notice and are subject to time constraints) Water quality testing or Plankton sampling/identification.

At the OceanThrough discussion and instruction, students will explore the following key concepts during the barrier beach portion of the program:

Geographic orientation
Formation, structure, function and importance of the barrier beach
Beach processes (waves, currents, tides)
Zones of the beach (dunes, backshore, foreshore, nearshore)
Human use and impact on barrier beach environment (erosion, accretion, replenishment)
An overview of barrier plants and animals
Identification of seashells and other shoreline “finds” (bivalves, univalves, crustaceans)
Students will participate in the following activities while at the beach:
Shell collecting and identification
Beach hike
Optional activity (requires advance notice and is subject to time constraints) Beach profiling, Longshore current measurement or Sand sampling.
An overview of the history of Sandy Hook is integrated throughout the program.

Special Education &

Gifted and Talented Partnership

Partnership

Public School 2

"It is very special to us as it demonstrates how we started this partnership as two individual groups and have come together to create such great work." - student
"This partnership wasn’t only about building bridges but bridging the gap and bringing us all together." -student

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