Upper Elementary Past Classes
Enrichment for Upper Elementary and Middle School (Spring 2019)
Junkbox Wars
This enrichment will challenge students to use their imaginations, scientific knowledge, and a box of "junk" to create a variety of devices that perform an assortment of tasks. The projects target technological design standards and incorporate others depending on the project. The Junk Box Wars projects are modeled after the Junkyard Wars TV show that aired on the Learning Channel network. Students will work together in small groups to design/build a variety of Challenges. Each challenge will extend over 2 class periods. The first class will introduce the parameters of the Challenge, cover related physics/engineering principles, and provide groups an opportunity to brainstorm general ideas. Students may continue to communicate and brainstorm designs the rest of the week but no Junkbox supplies will be provided and no pre-building at home allowed! The second class will consist of a 45-minute Build Time using Junkbox supplies followed by Competition.
Instructor: Jayne Besjak
Upper Elementary
Literature Exploration
Just as we developed a writing community during this school year, next year we plan on developing a reading community. We will read novels throughout the semester, exploring what makes great literature through discussion, hands-on activities, games, and writing assignments. Basic literary elements will be woven throughout, as students develop the ability to thoughtfully critique a novel. Outside work will consist of reading assigned chapters and preparing for class discussion through writing and projects.
Instructor: Kim Rodgers
Creative Thinking Circle
This is a hands-on problem solving class where the focus will be on creative, critical, and divergent thinking. These are areas rarely covered in a typical school setting, but highly sought after in the real world settings of business, academia, and modern high-tech industry. Each week students will be encouraged to solve challenging and complex problems individually and collaboratively in small teams where they will learn to appreciate each other's input and value alternative approaches. We will discuss multi-step and open-ended problems, brain teasers, math puzzles, and logic problems as students learn to distinguish what is relevant for obtaining a solution. We will even make mistakes and enjoy them!
For more information on the history of this approach (inspired by an ideology which employs more problem solving vs. computational or textbook math) please visit the web-site Mathcircles. We are using curriculum from Bright, Brave Open Minds: Engaging Young Children in Math Inquiry.
Instructor: Christine Coleman
Enrichment for Upper Elementary and Middle School (Spring 2019)
Junkbox Wars
This enrichment will challenge students to use their imaginations, scientific knowledge, and a box of "junk" to create a variety of devices that perform an assortment of tasks. The projects target technological design standards and incorporate others depending on the project. The Junk Box Wars projects are modeled after the Junkyard Wars TV show that aired on the Learning Channel network. Students will work together in small groups to design/build a variety of Challenges. Each challenge will extend over 2 class periods. The first class will introduce the parameters of the Challenge, cover related physics/engineering principles, and provide groups an opportunity to brainstorm general ideas. Students may continue to communicate and brainstorm designs the rest of the week but no Junkbox supplies will be provided and no pre-building at home allowed! The second class will consist of a 45-minute Build Time using Junkbox supplies followed by Competition.
Instructor: Jayne Besjak
Upper Elementary
Literature Exploration
Just as we developed a writing community during this school year, next year we plan on developing a reading community. We will read novels throughout the semester, exploring what makes great literature through discussion, hands-on activities, games, and writing assignments. Basic literary elements will be woven throughout, as students develop the ability to thoughtfully critique a novel. Outside work will consist of reading assigned chapters and preparing for class discussion through writing and projects.
Instructor: Kim Rodgers
Creative Thinking Circle
This is a hands-on problem solving class where the focus will be on creative, critical, and divergent thinking. These are areas rarely covered in a typical school setting, but highly sought after in the real world settings of business, academia, and modern high-tech industry. Each week students will be encouraged to solve challenging and complex problems individually and collaboratively in small teams where they will learn to appreciate each other's input and value alternative approaches. We will discuss multi-step and open-ended problems, brain teasers, math puzzles, and logic problems as students learn to distinguish what is relevant for obtaining a solution. We will even make mistakes and enjoy them!
For more information on the history of this approach (inspired by an ideology which employs more problem solving vs. computational or textbook math) please visit the web-site Mathcircles. We are using curriculum from Bright, Brave Open Minds: Engaging Young Children in Math Inquiry.
Instructor: Christine Coleman
