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Comprehensive Gifted/Advanced Students

 

Happy New Year or Gung Hat Fat Choy!

 

According to Johan Wolfgang von Goethe, “Science and Art belong to the whole world and the barriers of nationality vanish before them.”

 

            Our project theme for the next eight weeks is:

“Greek Mythology and Forms of Energy”

During the following weeks, you will be exploring myths of Greek Heroes/Heroines using different forms of energy by using your data-mining skills in the multimedia center and library.  You will be given an art assignment of creating a mosaic of your hero/heroine starting with a template along with 5 characteristics of the hero/heroine, and then the final mosaic.  In addition, you are also assigned to choose a 21st century hero/scientist.

 

Week 24 M Book Chapter 4             Motion, Forces and Energy

 

Week 25 H Book Chapter 4&5        Earth’s Waters

 

Week 26 J Book Chapter 1               Earth, Moon and Sun

 

Week 27 J Book Chapter 2               Solar System

 

            The Gifted/Advanced Comprehensive Science modules are delivered through a collaborative model that supports a continuum of gifted/advanced services. The model is designed to strengthen direct services for advanced/gifted learners and to enhance the quality of instruction offered to all students. The gifted and talented resource teachers collaborate with classroom teachers to design differentiated lessons that challenge students to learn at a faster rate, think on a higher level, and study sophisticated and complex content through extensions of the FCPS Program of Gifted studies.

            This course provides a general look at all aspects of physical and life sciences with focus on the marine environment, including oceans, seas, and coastal habitats, as well as the various organisms that inhabit them. This makes sense when you consider the fact that most of the earth is covered by water (geography), most rock is formed within the ocean deep (geology), the oceans play important roles in determining weather patterns (meteorology), and a majority of the earth's species can be found in the marine environment (biology & ecology). So this course takes gifted/advanced students on quite an extensive journey through the physical and marine world using curriculum compacting and enrichment projects. A differentiated and accelerated curriculum that is exciting, fun and, most importantly, rewarding to you, the gifted and advanced student.

 

 

 

Student Textbooks

The following basal instructional materials have been approved for student use.

1. McLaughlin, Charles W. and Marilyn Thompson. Physical Science. New York, New York: Glencoe, 1997.

(One textbook per student)

This comprehensive text explores all aspects of physical science. Students explore concepts through reading, hands-on laboratories, mini-labs, and reasoning activities. Connections are made to real-world situations, other subject areas, and careers.

For additional information about Glencoe, check out their website at the following address: http://www.glencoe.com/sec/science/index.html

2. Maton, Anthea, et al. Exploring the Universe. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 1997.

This student book covers one area of science—the universe. Subtopics include stars and galaxies, the solar system Earth and its moon. This book will support the Earth-moon-sun system unit in the eighth grade science curriculum.

For additional information about Prentice Hall, check out their website at the following address:

http://www.phschool.com/science/index.html

 

Student Lab Guides

•           Investigating Matter and Its Changes, FCPS, 1999

•           Investigating Matter and Temperature, FCPS, 1999

•           Investigating Motion, Forces, and Energy, FCPS, 1999

•           Investigating the Earth-Moon-Sun System, FCPS, 1999

 

Software/CD-ROMS/Laserdiscs

•           Data Logger 4.5, Vernier

(One copy per school with license to use on all computers)

For more information about Verneir, check out their website at the following address: http://www.vernier.com

•           Discovering the Elements, Science Works, version 1.5.3

 

•           Fieldtrip to the Sky, CD-ROM, Sunburst

 

•           Vernier loggerPro 3.1

 

•           Interactive Physical Science Laserdisc Program, Glencoe

 

•           Interactive Physical Science CD-ROM, Glencoe

 

•           Physical Science With Computers. Vernier

 

•           Science Sleuth. CD-ROM, Videodiscover

 

•           Windows on Science Series. Optical Data Corporation.

(One complete set – Life, Earth, and Physical Sciences)

 

•           Cities Under the Sea-CD Rom

•           Middle School Science with Calculators (Vernier LoggerPro3.1)

 

Grades

            There are now two options to view student grades. 

                        (1) Grades will be sent via e-mail, if a functional e-mail address is provided by students and parents.

                        (2) Grades can also be accessed on the web.

                                    Go to www.mygradebook.com, and enter the "classword" and student password.