EX.P.A.N.D.

STAFF Debra Garling – G&T District Coordinator

Carolyn McAteer – Depart. Admin. Assistant

EXPAND Teachers: Nathanial Peterson (PT) Katie Oppelt (NM) Debra Garling (CV) Renee Pearce (MS)

•Exceptional

•Pupils

•Adding

•New

•Dimensions

Objectives

• Identify and nurture students’ exceptional performance in one or more talent areas in order to:

– 1) enhance each student’s self-esteem –2) share his/her talents with others –3) increase each student’s learning potential

How do students qualify?• Specific Academic ability• Creative ability• Leadership ability• Visual/Performing Arts ability

Major Program Components

Critical Thinking Creative Thinking

The program • Addresses cognitive & affective needs • Students work individually & collective • We provide a variety of independent & group activities• Students expand intellectually & emotionally• Students specialize in areas of strength & interest• Students share ideas/feelings with other gifted

learners in order to discover abilities & interests different from their own

Expectations of Program

• Attendance: buddy system when absent• Supplies needed for class: writing tool,

marble notebook – bound composition, folder• Active participation• Efforts: 85% mastery

EXPAND Grade 3

Grade 3Format: I.5 hours once a week

Class size is typically 8-10 students

Material: Composition notebookWriting implementFolder

Grade 3Unit 1-Thinking Skills• Convergent vs. Divergent Thinking -

Which do you prefer? • Creative Thinking • Simple Machines & Complex

Contraptions• S.C.A.M.P.E.R. - Invent, innovate, create!!

Grade 3 Unit 2 – Independent Inquiry• In-depth learning of topics that are of

interest to the student• Active testing of skills necessary to achieve

goals

EXPAND Grade 4 Mrs. Oppelt

Grade 4&5

Format: 2 hours once a weekClass size is typically 8-10 students

Material: Composition notebookWriting implementFolder

Grade 4

Unit 1 – Transformational Thinking• No "Tunnel Vision" • There's more than one way to think • Observing the Obvious • Loupe Analogies - Up Close and personal

examinations of everyday objects.

Meet a Grade 4 EXPANDER

Sophia’s Tellagami

Grade 4Unit 2 – Surveys • Develop survey questions which

generate quantifiable results

• Choose topics/issues, collect data, prepare a report ~ Share results

Grade 4Unit 3 - Independent Inquiry• In-depth learning of topics that are of

interest to the student

• Active testing of skills necessary to achieve goals

EXPAND Grade 5 Mr. Peterson

Grade 5

Format: 2 hours once a weekClass size is typically 8-10 students

Material: Composition notebookWriting implementFolder

Grade 5Unit 1 – FUTURE STUDIES

• What will world be like in 30 – 50 years?

• What issues will we face?

• Opportunity to explore science, social studies & technology

• Collaborative work on interdisciplinary project.

Grade 5Unit 2 – “Architectural Adventures”

• Exploration and hands-on activities • Tasks include drafting, designing and

creating structures

Grade 5Unit 3 – Independent Inquiry• In-depth learning of topics that are of

interest to the student

• Active testing of skills necessary to achieve goals

INDEPENDENT INQUIRY• 10 weeks long

• Independent Inquiry packet

• Final Project due in May

Grades 3-5 Evaluation/Conferences

Report Cards (January, June)

Parent / Teacher Conference dates:• November 18th (evening)• November 20th (evening)• November 26th (day)• March 11th (day)• March 19th (day)• March 27th (day)

Questions??

EXPAND Grade 6

Mrs. Pearce

Grade 6Format: 40-minute periods

2 times per 4 day cycle, during flex period

Class size is typically 12-14 students

Material: Notebook, folderWriting implement

Curriculum:

Wall-E: Conservation & the Future of Our PlanetDescription: Using the movie Wall-E as a starting point, this unit centers on the destructive direction of humans.

Flatlands: The Third Dimension & BeyondDescription: Trying to perceive a dimension that is not present in our current world, this unit requires creative thinking, an open mind and endless possibilities.

Curriculum Continued:

Jabberwocky: The InterpretationDescription: This unit centers on Lewis Carroll’s famous

poem taken from Through the Looking Glass. Students will experience “Jabberwocky” as it skates on the thin edge of being understood and being nonsense

Create- A- World: Jabberwocky World UnitDescription: Students will create a fictional culture based

on their knowledge of the world and lessons that have taken place during the year. They will analyze, synthesize and evaluate current data and issues to create a new and improved “world”. This comprehensive unit centers on problem solving and decision-making and includes both group and individual project components

Journal“Reflection is the heart of learning.”

Students must bring their JOURNAL to each class.

• The purpose of the journal is twofold:

It is an official record of the time & activity spent on a project or assignment.

It is a means used to foster communications between student, teacher and peers.

Assessment:“Pass” or a “Fail”- 85%

• Attendance • Active Participation/Journal• Classwork/ Homework• Completion group & individual culminating

products.

EXPAND Grades 7/8

Grade 7/8Format: 40-minute periods

Everyday for an entire quarterClass size is typically 10-12 students

Material: Notebook, folderWriting implement

Curriculum:

•On years that are odd in September (e.g. 13-14) the in-school 7/8 grade EXPAND proudly offers an interactive course in Philosophy & Debate.

•On years that are even in September (e.g. 14-15) the in-school 7/8 EXPAND proudly offers a course in Contraption-eering.

Curriculum Continued:• Contraption-eering:This quarter long unit provides students the

opportunity to explore engineering and build machines. This unit dovetails nicely with earlier learning experiences in the EXPAND program, while taking engineering to a whole new level. Students will individually create "contraptions" using the examples, references and lessons they were introduced to in class.

• Philosophy & Debate:This quarter long unit will include introductions to renowned philosophers and his/her thoughts on the four branches of philosophy. Students will then apply tools of public speaking, logic and philosophy material to participate in a debate, which requires students to develop poise, concentration, and the ability to analyze, evaluate, and refute arguments.

Assessment:“Pass” or a “Fail”- 85%

• Attendance • Active Participation• Completion & Attendance of culminating

product: research, visual, note cards, presentation.

• Homework

MSEvaluation/Conferences

• Progress Reports (mid quarter, as needed)• Report Cards (Quarterly)• Parent / Teacher Conference dates:• November 11th (evening)• November 24th (evening)• November 26th (day)• March 11th (day)• March 19th (day)• March 27th (day)

End of Year CELEBRATION!

Tuesday, June 9th Monroe-Woodbury High School

6:00-8:00pm

(Students are responsible for transporting their individual inquiry term project to the High School)

Questions??

ADDITIONAL ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

MW S.T.E.A.M.

A Critical Thinking/Problem Solving Approach to Learning

WHAT is STEAM?

An interdisciplinary approach to problem solving with real world application.

“As repetitive tasks are eroded by technology and outsourcing, the ability to

solve novel problems has become increasingly vital.”

~ Jeevan Vasagar

WHY STEAM?

Collaboration Communication

ResearchProblem Solving

Critical Thinking

Creativity

Grade 3 STEAMStudents will collect data and ideas through a series of smaller trial and error experiments.

They will apply their newfound knowledge to the challenge.

All final aid drop packages will be tested.

Reflection and redesign.

CHALLENGE: Engineer an

aid drop package that won’t break and

is easy to find.

Grade 5 STEAM

• Explore Friction, Torque, Speed, and Momentum

• Experiments with forces that act on vehicles and passengers

• Examine relationship of Speed and Momentum

• Identify mathematical relationships to project results

CHALLENGE: Launch projectiles using the

forward momentum of vehicles and cargo.

6th GRADE: STEAM Components

Jabberwocky: The Interpretation: iMovie

Flatlands: The Third Dimension & Beyond: Architectural Drawings

Wall-E: Conservation & the Future of Our Planet: Audio project

Create- A- World: Jabberwocky World Unit: “Jabber-lution”(Students will create machines based on the Industrial Revolution.)

7/8 GRADE:”Contraption-eering”:Students will individually create "contraptions" using the examples, references and lessons they were introduced to in class.

STEAM provides students the opportunity to explore problems and collaborate on solutions. The STEAM workshops are designed to provide

students with time to make discoveries and arrive at conclusions through their

research. Ultimately, the opportunities afforded by the STEAM curriculum serve

to assist the students in becoming self-motivated thinkers, learners,

and problem solvers.

Bottom Line

Johns Hopkins CTY• National Talent Search • Optional opportunity for interested students• ≥95th percentile• Parent Nominations with waiver For more information visit: www.cty.jhu.edu

Odyssey of the Mind• OBJECTIVES:

Promote creative thinkingCooperative problem solvingFoster constructive competition strategies

• IDENTIFICATION:Tryouts in the fall3-12th gradeEach team is limited to seven members

• SCHEDULE:After school and weekend practicesAll day Regional Competition Saturday, March 1, 2013

Parents Advocating for Gifted Education

See EXPAND web page for more information (on MW district web site)

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