2012 Summer Program for Gifted Children Flyer
Program for Students Entering Grade 1
Creepy Crawling through Eric Carle Books (An Encore)
Welcome
to
the
wonderful
world
of
Eric
Carle,
author
and
illustrator!
Have
you
ever
wondered
what
it
would
be
like
to
watch
a
caterpillar
grow
and
turn
into
a
butterfly?
Why
do
some
insects
crawl
while
others
fly?
Why
are
some
insects
brightly
colored
and
others
not?
If
you
are
curious,
then
this
is
the
place
for
you!
Come
discover
life
cycles,
plants,
animals,
insects
and
so
much
more.
Together
we
will
leap
into
learning,
buzz
through
brilliant
books,
slither
through
science,
and
creep
into
creative
arts.
We
may
even
flutter
on
a
fabulous
field
trip
or
two.
There
are
many
adventures
awaiting
you
inside
the
colorfully
collaged,
creepy
crawling
world
of
Eric
Carle.
You
never
know
what
insect
friends
will
join
us
along
the
way.
Don’t
miss
out
on
all
of
the
surprises
that
await
you
on
this
adventure!
Brittney Mosteller, Teacher, Oak Creek Elementary School, District 2
__________
Programs for Students Entering Grades 2 and 3
Into the Deep Blue Sea
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to experience the oceans as a scuba diver or navigate
through the seas in a submarine? Into the Deep Blue Sea will take you on an exciting voyage through
the oceans and their diverse ecosystems. How far does a whale swim and how do they find their way?
Have you ever eaten kelp? Maybe you have but did not know it. Why do different creatures live near the
surface and others inhabit the depths of the ocean? Come be a marine biologist and explore the different
zones of the ocean and life-forms both big and small. Join in to create our own ocean wall Investigate
plate tectonics and understand the topography of the ocean floor. Learn about various coral reefs, marine
mammals, and even tube worms that live near the thermal vents nearly 8,000 feet below the surface.
Come study the rainforest of the sea and learn about underwater ecosystems. Our travel journals will
assist in keeping records of our explorations and capture our summer trip Into the Deep Blue Sea.
Kristin Rowe, Teacher, The da Vinci Academy, District 20
On the Trail of Discovery! (An Encore)
Who were Meriwether Lewis and William Clark? Where and when did they travel? What exactly
were they looking for? Who went along with them? Were they successful in their mission? What
problems did they encounter? Enlist in the Corps of Discovery and you will find answers to these
questions and many more! We will identify and catalog unknown species of plants and animals by using
“plant finders,” tracks, scat, and other clues. You will learn and apply alternative forms of communication
including sign language, charades, and picture writing. Buoyancy, balance, and boat-making will be
tested on a field trip to Prospect Lake. Survival skills will come into play as you navigate using maps and
compasses, build forts, and practice basic first aid. Bartering for wanted items, working with others to
overcome obstacles, and digital history recording are other highlights. Through story-spinning, giftgiving,
and problem solving, you will discover the fascinating steps in this famous expedition. Daily
experiences will be logged into a readers’ theater script to be performed at the conclusion of this course.
Take a chance … discover history!
Lori Duffy, Teacher, Trailblazer Elementary School, District 11
Wings (An Encore)
Are
you
interested
in
birds,
planes,
rockets,
or
anything
that
flies
through
the
air
defying
gravity?
Since
the
beginning
of
time,
people
have
wanted
to
fly.
Some
people
thought
they
could
fly
by
wearing
wings
and
flapping
their
arms.
They
couldn’t!
However,
they
didn’t
give
up
and
in
our
class
we
will
explore
the
history
of
their
discoveries.
Wings’
students
will
start
by
observing
birds
to
get
ideas
about
how
wings
make
it
easier
for
them
to
soar,
dive,
and
lift
objects.
How
does
the
design
of
planes
through
history
compare
to
the
flight
of
birds?
Every
day
we
will
have
a
focus
questions
such
as:
What
is
the
difference
between
falling
and
gliding?
We’ll
make
claims
to
answer
these
questions,
perform
scientific
experiments
to
gather
evidence,
and
make
conclusions
to
define
the
science
principles
of
the
forces
of
flight.
You
will
use
these
forces
to
design,
build,
and
test
parachutes,
gliders,
planes,
and
rockets.
And
you
can
take
home
everything
that
you
make!
Will
your
aircraft
stay
up
the
longest?
Will
it
fly
the
farthest,
the
fastest,
or
the
highest?
Join
the
ranks
of
inventors
like
the
Wright
Brothers,
rocket
scientists
like
Dr.
Robert
Goddard,
and
pilots
like
Chuck
Yeager.
Come
find
out
if
you
will
be
the
next
great
aerospace
inventor.
Your
grain
will
be
going
Mach
VI!
Dorene Calvin, Teacher, Ruby Elementary School, District 11
__________
Programs for Students Entering Grades 4, 5, and 6
“All the World’s a Stage”
Come along with us to the Forest of Arden, the setting for Shakespeare’s comedy, As You Like It,
where nothing is as it seems and everyone is pretending to be someone else! Among the characters
you will meet are a good duke and his evil brother; a princess and her cousin who flee to the forest in
disguise; two other rival brothers who mend their relationship after one saves the other from a lion attack;
an arrogant court jester and the simple country girl he falls for; a shepherdess and the annoying shepherd
who follows her around like a lovesick puppy; and a brutal wrestler. They all end up in the Forest of
Arden, fighting, tricking, and pretending all in the name of love and loyalty. Besides learning acting
techniques and getting to be Shakespearean actors in full Elizabethan costume, you will paint stage
scenery and explore Shakespeare’s world. Daily rehearsals will culminate in two stage performances for
audiences. If you like to act and want to gain some historical perspective along the way, come join us in
the very confusing but very funny Forest of Arden where “all the world’s a stage!”
Dedra Montoya, Teacher, Steele Elementary School, District 11
Bodyworks: Inside/Out
As
body
detectives,
we
will
learn
about
the
inner
workings
of
the
human
body.
We
will
explore
the
fascinating,
microscopic
universe
within
us
all.
Did
you
know
that
during
digestion
food
travels
through
29
feet
of
tubes
in
your
body?
Your
small
intestine
alone
is
13
feet
long!
Why
do
we
have
fingernails?
What
are
goose
bumps?
What
if
we
had
no
skin
or
our
skeleton
was
on
the
outside
of
our
bodies?
What
is
the
funny
bone?
We
will
conduct
experiments,
create
models,
and
dissect
animal
organs.
Some
of
the
topics
to
be
covered
will
include
learning
about
the
systems
of
the
body,
how
our
organs
work,
and
how
we
use
our
senses.
Our
remarkable
human
body
is
an
incredible
machine
working
24
hours
a
day,
seven
days
a
week!
There
is
so
much
going
on
inside,
you
will
be
amazed
as
you
take
a
closer
look
at
how
our
bodies
work!
Jennifer Wakeen, Teacher, Timberview Middle School, District 20
From BOOM TOWN to GHOST TOWN
“We descended in a cage to the twelfth level, about 1200 feet into the earth. After we drilled holes in the
rock and lit the fuses on the dynamite, the wall exploded and collapsed. To our amazement, there was a
room beyond our blast! It was a cave of sparkling jewels. The brightness blinded us. Spattered
everywhere were glowing flakes of pure gold. The cave was called a vug. It was 40 feet high and 20 feet
long. We had struck it rich!” Do you have gold fever? Our Colorado Rockies have a story to tell. Dig
into our past and experience the Gold Rush. Step back in time and live in a Boom Town. Find out why it
is now a Ghost Town. Learn the secrets and tales of mines from Myrium Friggen’s Book, Tales, Trails
and Tommyknockers. If you want to strike it rich, throw your hat to the wind and stake your claim where
it lands. Send your dog out for a stroll and start shoveling where he sits down. You may be able to enjoy
your earnings, or you might lose all your money when the mine fails or the town is abandoned. What role
do you want to play? A miner? A prospector? A store owner? Would you own a restaurant or boarding
house? Would you rather have a laundry or build an opera house? Be part of Colorado history as we
share our stories and create a live museum. We will bring our own ghost Town to life!
Heidi Baker, Martinez Elementary School, District 11
Go for the Gold! London Calls!
Have you ever dreamed of winning the gold medal in the Olympic Games? Or do you love learning
about all of the different countries who participate in them? Get in the game and go for the gold in this
exciting course! Join us as we create our own Olympic Village to learn about the history and culture of
the Olympic Games, enjoy the pageantry of an Opening and Closing Ceremony while studying the
countries and athletes that participate. You will become an athlete representing a country as we compete
in various daily events ranging from brain teasers to “Minute to Win It” type challenges throughout our
time together. Daily medal counts will take place and sportsmanship is paramount. Remember, true
Olympians and Paralympians are not only measured by the goals they achieve but more importantly by
their Olympic spirit and character. We will learn firsthand about the Olympic and Paralympic games
from a few athletes themselves! You will get a unique view and tour of Colorado Springs’ very own
Olympic Training Center where athletes will be busy preparing themselves for the 2012 summer games in
London, England. Are you ready to make your mark in history? Are you game? Your place on the
podium awaits you. This course is open to all; you need not be an athlete to thoroughly enjoy it. All you
need is an interest in the Olympics and Paralympics and be ready to have fun!
Stacey Huebner, Teacher, Broadmoor Elementary School, District 12