2012 Summer Program - Center for Talent Development ...

LEAPFROG HALF-DAY COURSES (for students PreK–grade 3)1-A (1/2) Gods & GoddessesHow did Zeus escape being swallowed byhis father? Why is Aphrodite the goddessof love and beauty? In this course, studentsgo back in time to find answers toquestions such as these. As students discusstheir readings they strengthen theirvocabulary, comprehension and analyticalskills. Students create their own storiesexploring events and natural phenomenathrough the actions of gods and goddesses,synthesizing their newfoundknowledge.1-A (2/3) Castles & DragonsThe colorful history of Medieval Englandcomes alive through the legends and storiesof knights and quests. After gaining abase knowledge of medieval historythrough research and engaging activities,students collaborate to create their ownprojects representing the ideas and storiesthat have captured their imaginations.Week 2 (July 16 - 20)UNSOLVED MYSTERIESUnanswered questions and lingering mysteriesstump students as they considersolutions to cold cases in history. Criticalthinkingskills are enhanced as studentsanalyze literature and try to determinewhat happened and why. Writing activitiesand projects encourage students to synthesizethe information they uncover.2-A (PreK/K) The Secrets of the SphinxThe Great Sphinx of Giza is an ancientmonument built near Egyptian pyramids.A sphinx is a mysterious creature that isusually drawn by artists as part human andpart animal. Many questions remain unansweredabout how and why the ancientEgyptians constructed monuments andcreated art in the image of the sphinx. Inpairs and small groups, students polishtheir critical thinking skills as they examinemaps and photographs, build models, andread stories about this ancient creature.2-A (K/1) The Mysterious Disappearanceof Amelia EarhartMany have studied the disappearance ofthe famous airline pilot Amelia Earhart,but few clues have been found. Creativeprojects such as writing editorial newsstories and drawing detailed time linesallow students to enhance their understandingof her disappearance and formand document their own theories andopinions.2-A (1/2) The Bermuda TriangleChristopher Columbus was the first tomake note of curious conditions in theBermuda Triangle, a region of the AtlanticOcean. Since that time, hundreds of shipsand planes have disappeared in the area.Students read stories and personalaccounts about these strange happeningsin the Bermuda Triangle and formulatetheir own theories about the causes as theyexpand their writing and critical thinkingskills.2-A (2/3) The Many Mysteries of SpaceSpace is endless and so are the questionsabout its origins, composition, and uniquefeatures. Students explore several of themysteries of space including black holes,quasars, wormholes and dark matter byreviewing the research, reading aboutrecent discoveries, and considering thevisual evidence. Students delve into aspace topic of interest and present thestory behind the phenomenon.Week 3 (July 23 - 27)YOU’RE IN THE STORY!Stories are a powerful way to communicateideas, emotions and information.Settings from a restaurant to the AmazonBasin provide the backdrop for students tocreate and act out their own stories.Students strengthen language and literacyskills through dramatic play, creative writingand storytelling, reading and research,and collaborative problem solving.3-A (PreK/K) Open Your Own RestaurantEveryone loves a good meal and what’smore fun than eating out? Students createa restaurant as the setting for their ownstories and imaginative play. Groups ofstudents work together to design theirrestaurant by developing scripts, murals,posters and menus. The restaurant comesalive as students hone their language andearly writing skills through creative storytellingand dramatization.3-A (K/1) On SafariAs photographers on a safari trip to Kenya,students learn about African topographyand the animals that are found in Kenyangame reserves. Students imagine and createtheir own game reserve, research thelocal Maasai culture and create a safariguidebook. Along the way, studentsencounter a variety of challenges that theymust discuss, research and solve together.3-A (1/2) Life in Ancient EgyptBy creating a story about a communitythat lives in the Nile River Valley, studentsinvestigate the culture and history of theancient Egyptians. While role-playingmembers of Egyptian families, studentslearn about daily life, agriculture and tradeand hardships such as drought. The creationof stories, murals, skits and posterschallenge students to communicate theirideas using a variety of skills.3-A (2/3) The Amazon RainforestThe global impact of deforestation isexamined as students analyze a lumbercompany’s plan to buy a reserve. Throughtheir roles as biologists, game wardens andindigenous people students explore theAmazon Basin’s ecosystem as a habitat andsource of materials. Models, skits, articlesand stories are used as students use criticalthinking skills and persuasive writing todetermine the fate of the reserve.MATHEMATICS COURSESStudents with an identified strength inmath, based on test scores or other academicmeasures, may enroll in a Mathematicscourse. Students must have a mathematicsscore in the 95 th percentile or higher on anin-grade, nationally normed standardizedachievement test or submit an AdmissionPortfolio (portfolio option available only tostudents completing grades 2 or 3). See page16 for more information about eligibility.Identify the appropriate section for yourchild based on his/her current grade level.The course code and grade level precede eachcourse title.10 CENTER FOR TALENT DEVELOPMENT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY www.ctd.northwestern.edu 847/491-3782