2013 sparks course guide

SPARKS July 15 - July 26

Wheat Ridge Middle

7101 West 38th Ave.

Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

2013

A summer program, designed to SPARK the imagination and creativity of gifted learners is

here! The vision of Jeffco SPARKS is to empower the dreams and passions of high

ability and gifted learners in order to build a knowledge base for the

future. We are committed to providing enriching experiences

that promote the development of the whole child. Through a

socially stimulating environment, learners will experience unique intellectual learning, leadership

development, artistic opportunities, creative

expression, as well as critical and creative problem.

Class Page Age or Grade

Advanced Animal Robotics Creations 3 9-14

Amazing Adaptations 4 4-6

American Girl 5 7-10

Art(chitecture) 6 4th-6th

Board game Bonanza 7 4th-6th

Creative Expression 8 4-6

Creative Sculpture 9 7-9

Creative Sculpture 9 10-14

Culinary Creating (Kitchen Chemistry) 10 7-9

Curtain Call: Own the stage, be a star, show the world who you are! 11 8-14

Engineering Challenges 12 4th-6th

Everything Science (Super Science) 13 4-6

Exploration With Dr. Suess 14 5-6

Fiber Arts/Textile Design 15 7-10

Fiber Arts/Textile Design 15 10-14

Finding Your Patronus 16 9-14

Forensic Science 17 11-14

Great Inventors 18 10-14

Her Majesty the Queen 19 7-14

Historical Crimes 20 11-14

Hunger Games 21 11-14

Knit & Crochet 22 7-8

Knit & Crochet 22 9+

Marvelous Biomes & Zoology 23 9-12

Math Statistics using Fantasy Football 24 9+

Music Exploration 25 4-6

Passport around the World 26 7-10

Percy Jackson and The Heroes of Olympus 27 8-11

Personality Testing and Leadership Profiling 28 11-14

Robotics & Engineering 29 6-14

Sports in Theory and Practice 30 7-14

Stay Alive: Survival 101 31 5th-8th

Superheroes 32 4-6

Wildlife Forensics 33 6th-8th

Wondrous Words 33 7-9

Wondrous Words 34 9-14

World Celebrations and Expressions 35 7-11

Young Movie Making 37 7-10

Young Movie Making 37 11-14

Yoga 38 4-6/7-9

Nurturing Your Child’s Creativity: Tips for Parents 39 PARENTS

Love & Logic Parenting: Easy Tips & Techniques for Gifted Kids 40 PARENTS

SPARKS 2013

ADVANCED ANIMAL ROBOTIC CREATIONS

Creative thought and a love for animals brings this advanced course to

life as we explore through the Rainforest of Endangered Species,

Animals of All Kinds ( Sea Creatures and Beyond), and Unique

Programming. In this class, we will adventure to the zoo to learn more

about the animal creations that we would love to design and program. A

child must be able to program and have had previous experience with

Robotics & Engineering- NXT Lego Mindstorm in SPARKS .

Age: 9-14

Available: 12:30-3:30pm

My Journal

Amazing Adaptations

Description: You will travel to four of

Earth's major biomes to discover what it

would be like to live there, and to figure

out how plants and animals have adapted

their bodies, diets and behaviors to

survive there. You will discover the plants

and animals of the tundra, desert, rain

forest and savannah. Your mission is to

create a field journal for each biome,

detailing the plants and animals that you

discover, and documenting the wonderful

adaptations they use to survive! You will

also act out scenarios about how plants

and animals in each biome survive and

will create crafts that will enhance your

understanding!

July 15, 2013

Age: 4-6


American Girl

Description: Ever wonder what life would be like in

the past? This class will focus on

American history through the lens of

the American Girl series. Each session

will focus on the life of an American

Girl through stories, music, food, and

crafts. American Girl dolls are

welcome!

Age: 7-10 Available: 10:00-11:30

( )

Students will investigate how, throughout history, structural ne-

cessity has inspired creativity. They will explore the scientific

and mathematical principles that allow skyscrapers, bridges,

domes, and other structures to stand and endure; then, they will

design and execute models of these architectural mainstays.

Most importantly, students will learn to appreciate the aesthetic

element of architectural design: they will view individual and

collective elements of the cityscape as avenues of functional

artistic expression.

Grade: 4th-6th

Available: 8:30-11:30am

Board Game

Bonanza

Do you like to play board games? Have you

ever wanted to create your own? Then this is

the class for you! This class provides an

opportunity to think outside the box. Creative

thinking and problem-solving skills are

developed using entertaining and thought

provoking games and puzzles. Not only will

you identify and analyze strategies needed to

win popular board games, but you will get to

research, design and create your own

board game.

CHAN

CE!

Grade:

4th-

6th

GO BACK

Available: 8:30-11:30

Creative

Expression

Description: This class will allow your child to

express himself/herself and to create. Expression

can come in the form of words, or it can come

through the arts-painting, drawing, dancing,

making music, sculpting and dramatic play. It can

also come in the form of ideas, such as looking at

a problem in a new way to find a brilliant solution,

mediating conflicts with peers, making choices

and showing leadership.

AGE: 4-6

Available:

8:30-10:00am

2:00-3:30pm

Description: Do you ever feel like there is not enough time in art class? Then this

is your opportunity to use your imagination and creativity to the fullest extent. After

choosing and sketching a subject to work with, you will create sculptures both small

and large. You will expand your problem solving and art making skills by working

with modeling and Model Magic clay, paper mache, as well as watercolor and

tempera paints. Come ready to be creative, use your critical thinking skills, and get

messy in the process!

Creative Sculpture

PAINT SHIRT

REQUIRED!

Age: 7-9

Available:

12:30-2:00pm

2:00-3:30pm

Age: 10-14

Available:

8:30-11:30am

Confectionary

Culinary Creating

Serving Size 2 weeks

Nutrition Facts Amount Per Serving

Description:

Mmm, Mmm, Good! Who knew knowledge could taste

so good? In this class students will be learning about

how science applies to the real world through tasty

experiments that will bring a hands-on and engaging

perspective to science basics. You are what you eat... in

this class you’re a smart cookie!

% Daily Value*

* Percent daily Values are based on a GREAT EDUCATION!

Age 7-9


Curtain Call: Own the stage, be a star, show

the world who you are!

Description Calling all actors and actresses to come create short skits, monologues, and take part in our final presentation. This is a fun filled class, with no expectations where kids can insert their humor and imagination into all activities. Kids will have an opportunity to learn about stage presence and acting lingo.

AGE: 8-14


Description: This class will challenge the designer and builder in

you! You will learn the essential concepts of aerodynamics and

structure while building and competing in various challenges. The

design and build challenges include:

• Catapult - see how far your design will launch an object.

• Bridge made of toothpicks - see whose bridge will support the

most weight.

• Glider - see whose glider will fly the farthest.

• Container - to protect 3 eggs from breaking in an egg drop.

Grade: 4th-6th


Your little princess will enjoy

a fun filled week of activities

including story time, music,

dancing and magical princess

crafts. We will also learn how

to be a perfect princess with

some princess etiquette. Please

come and join in the princess

Everything

Princess

AGE: 4-6

Available:

8:30-10:00 / 12:30-2:00

Everything Science

Description:

Curiosities abound as we learn to explore our

world with a scientific eye. Your child will jump

into scientific investigations by posing ques-

tions and finding solutions. Your child will

delve into science through exploring Dr.

Suess’s Ooblek, Eric Carle’s The Honey and

the Robber, and recipes for edible play dough!

AGE: 4-6

Available:

10:00-11:30am

12:30-2:00

AGE: 7-9

Available:

8:30-10:00

"So... be your name Buxbaum or Bixby

or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen

O'Shea, you're off to Great Places!

Today is your day! Your mountain is

waiting. So... get on your way!" A

corner stone in children's literature,

Dr. Seuss can invoke creativity as well

as teach valuable lessons. Through the

works of Dr. Seuss, your child shall

discover their place in the world, as

well as their responsibilities to the

earth. They shall explore geography

and use their imaginations to create a

place all their own, while also working

with grammatical elements, such as

onomatopoeia and rhyme.

EXPLORATION

WITH DR. SEUSS

AGE: 4-6

Availab

le:

8:30-10

:00am

12:30-2:00pm

Fiber Arts and

Textile Design

Are you fascinated by colors and textures? Do you see patterns

and designs when you look at our world? In this class, we will

explore the art of fabrics and textiles and create a permanent

piece to display. Students will learn how to utilize color to

achieve their specific mood and purpose, how to dye fabrics,

how to select textures to enhance a piece and create symbolism,

how to incorporate natural textures into a visual scene, and how

to use the needle arts to bring a piece to life. We will sew our

heart and soul into a fabric masterpiece!

AGE:7-10

Available: 8:30-10:00/10:00-11:30

AGE: 10-14


Description: In-depth literature study of the Harry

Potter series. Have you read and re-read the Harry

Potter series? Have you watched the movies again

and again? Have you ever wondered

what your patronus would be? Have you ever

found the errors in J. K. Rowlings writing? Have

you ever just wanted to know more about the

wonderful world of Harry Potter? If so, please

join us as we jump into the literature!

Prerequisite: Read All 7 Harry

potter novels

AGE: 9-14


Students will use hands-on lab

activities to solve “crimes.” They will

love collecting dental impressions,

studying their classmates’ fingerprints,

looking at tool marks left at the scene

of the crime, analyzing mysterious

powders, and discovering the various

types of counterfeit checks.

AGE: 11-14


FORENSIC

SCIENCE

Great Inventors GREAT INVENTORS

Description: Take a journey through the great inventors of all time. Starting with Leonardo

Da Vinci students will be introduced to the life, world, and incredible mind of Leonardo Da

Vinci through hands on building projects that explore his ideas. Students will have the

opportunity to bring some of these ideas to life! We will also look at other great inventors like

Ben Franklin; from his groundbreaking scientific discoveries and inventions to his career as a

writer, printer, and politician, giving young readers a comprehensive look at the man who

gave us the lightning rod, the harmonica, bifocals, the post office, the first public library, and

so much more!

Available:

8:30-11:30

Age:

10-14

Her Majesty the Queen

Few women in history have sat

on the throne as the ruling

monarch, but those that did

made quite an impact. Some

stole their thrones, others had

to fight for their right to rule,

and others ruled reluctantly.

Join me as we discover how

several famous Queen’s got

their thrones, how long they

ruled, and explore the changes

that they made in art, science,

politics, and their economy.

Age: 7-14

Available:

12:30-2:00pm

Description: Take a leap into history’s most famous crimes and

criminals. Let the tales of Marie Antoinette, Jesse, James, Anne Boleyn,

Al Capone, and many others show you how history was changed

because of tragedy. You will go into an in depth

look at the details behind the crimes, and

how these personalities forever changed the

face of history. Whether you like learning

about history or true crimes, this course will

challenge you!

AGE: 11-14


Hunger Games

During the next two weeks you will train and learn the ways of the wilderness so that you can weather the storms and work your way to eternal victory in

the Tribute’s Triathlon. However your responsibilities don’t end there. During this process you will also

have the opportunity to become a true leader, just like Katniss! Come study the ways of the world, and discover the power of knowledge as you construct

your own District, and discover what it takes to form a successful nation.

You fortunate few have been se-lected for a most prestigious honor:

you are this year’s tributes!

AGE: 11-14

Available:

8:30-11:30am

Knit and Crochet

Description: There’s more to knitting than meets the eye! The rhythmic action of knitting/crocheting benefits the mind and body

as it soothes stress, improves hand-eye coordination, inspires creativity and provides a work out for the brain. Join this hands-on class to learn the basic techniques of knitting and crocheting, the

ins and outs of yarn, how to read a pattern, how to select an appropriate project and much more.

Requirements: $6.00 materials fee (participants will be

allowed to keep a set of knitting needles, a crochet hook,

and projects).

Age: 7-9


Age: 9+


MARVELOUS BIOMES & ZOOLOGY

Description: Marvelous Biomes and Zoology takes kids on a

circumnavigation of the globe to learn about the Earth’s terrestrial

and aquatic biomes. They’ll wander through forests, sizzle in

deserts, shiver in the tundra, plunge beneath the seas to explore

coral reefs, and slog through marshy waters. Along the way, kids

will encounter flora and fauna adapted for survival in each unique

climate zone. They’ll learn about learn about gnarly krumholz

trees, bioluminescent sea creatures, camouflage, carnivorous

plants, and blubbery marine critters. In each biome, people who

use science in their jobs are highlighted, whether at the site of a

disastrous oil spill or an oh-so cool mastodon.

Age: 9-12

Available:

2:00-3:30pm

Math Statistics using Fantasy Football

Description: One of the best ways to create interest and

passion about mathematics is to show its application in real life

situations. Fantasy football can help students acquire a love for

mathematics and can be a great bonding experience for both

friends and family. In this class we explore the basics of how

fantasy football is played, and learn how to create the best team

we can. Skills that students learn include conversion,

estimation, cost and benefit analysis, graphing and opportunity

cost. At the end of the class we will create our own fantasy

football league and compete for a prize during next football

season.

Age: 9+

Available:

10:00-11:30 / 12:30-2:00

Who is ready to get up and groove? This class offers

students the opportunity to have a variety of experiences

incorporating music, rhythm, and movement. Students

will explore music with the use of instruments, dance,

movement, vocals, and song writing.

Age: 4-6


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Age:7-10

Available:

8:30-10:00

Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus

Exploring Mythology and Life through

Literature

Description: Join us as we venture on our own quest through classical mythology and archetypal themes inspired by the Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series. Students will take part in inspiring discussions, interesting writing projects, and LOTS of fun hands-on activities.

Prerequisites:

Familiarity with Percy Jackson novels

Requirements:

One plain orange t-shirt

Age:

8-11

Available:

12:30-3:30 pm

In this course students will begin by taking a personality test to determine their own

individual personality type. We will discuss how these different personalities contain both

strengths and weaknesses, but are each essential to contributing to a balanced environment.

Students will begin to associate personality types with people in their lives such as family

members, colleagues, and friends. We will discuss body language and how to present your best

self in their future career goals. Students will spend time evaluating how to become the best

version of themselves and how to interact appropriately with various personality types.

Students will begin to learn about and perceive the world and people around them and discuss

skills that will allow them to appropriately interact with various types of people.

Students will interact with their peers through various challenging and mentally stimu-

lating activities where they have to put themselves in the leadership role. We will discuss the

best practices to become leaders and which careers they desire in the future. Students will also

be able to profile and evaluate those people in their lives that they identify as leaders and the

reasons and qualities those people possess. They will take a day to dress up as those people they

consider leaders or motivating forces and present them to the class. A field trip to a designated

non- profit organization may be arranged to see how they can lead in society through

volunteering efforts which looks great on college applications and resumes and build their

understanding of other people. Students will actively improve leadership, communication, self

awareness, time and stress management, critical thinking and relationship building skills

through this two week course.

AGE: 11-14

Available:

10:00-11:30pm

With pleasure, we invite you to come to our Pinkalicious land. Please?! We will have so much fun dancing around in each of Victoria and Elizabeth Kann’s Pinkalicious books, and we’ll find some magical surprises while we are there. We will make crafts, cupcakes, and re-ally anything that is pink during our hour and a half land where imagination, politeness, and kindness rule!! All while never forgetting that PINK is the limit. Oh, don’t forget to wear

your pink, but if you do, no worries. I am sure we can find something. We are going to have SO much fun. See you soon! Hugs and Pink!


Age: 4-6

With pleasure, we invite you to come to our Purplicious

land. Please?! We will have so much fun dancing around in

each of Victoria and Elizabeth Kann’s Purplicious books,

and we’ll find some magical surprises while we are there.

We will make crafts, cupcakes, and really anything that is

purple during our hour and a half land where imagination,

politeness, and kindness rule!! All while never forgetting

that PURPLE is the limit. Oh, don’t forget to wear your

purple, but if you do, no worries. I am sure we can find

something. We are going to have SO much fun. See you soon!

Available:

2:00-3:30

Age: 4-6

Did you ever want to create,

invent, laugh, and learn while

bring your imagination to life? In

this course, students will research

information on engineering and

robotics. Using this information,

students will create a robot

incorporating a Lego NXT

creation and program their robots

to move, talk, and develop in

action.

AGE: 6-14

Available: 8:30-10:00am/10:00-11:30am

Sports in Theory & Practice

This class is designed for students interested in

learning skills, rules, and strategies of team sports. This

course will include daily skill instruction and

implementation of those skills into a competitive game

setting. Sports may include, but are not limited to:

basketball, flag football, soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, and

volleyball. This course will also include daily

cardiovascular fitness.

Age: 6-14

Available: 8:30-10:00 / 2:00-3:30

Colorado has one of the most diverse landscapes in the continental

United States. We have the rugged Rocky Mountains, the Great

Sand Dunes, and the vast Eastern Plains. The different environ-

ments provide a lot of hidden dangers; however, they also provide

an abundance of solutions. This course is designed to teach kids

the “Art of Self-Reliance.” We will learn how to produce a basic sur-

vival kit, tailored to each individual trip. In addition, the kids will

become well equipped with the S.T.O.P technique and W.E.T tech-

nique’s taught in wilderness survival. But more importantly, the

kids will learn to adapt and improvise to their situation, so they can

overcome their obstacles and SURVIVE. We will finish the course

off with a final survival project, which will challenge every student

to have fun and critically think.

NO you're not going to eat bugs! Unless of course, you want to :)

Grade: 7-14


Description: Within each of us there is a superhero, a powerful being ready

to do good deeds to save the world! Your child will use their imagination and

creativity to develop their superhero costume, side kick, super powers, and

potions. They will use math to measure their super abilities, science to create

super hero potions, and literacy to document their superhero experiences,

along with reading about superheroes in fiction and non-fiction literature.

Age: 4-6


This course provides an introduction to wildlife crime. Students

learn about international laws that govern wildlife and wildlife trade

and examine the impacts that humans make on various animal

populations. Students are trained in forensic techniques, including

distinguishing between antlers and horns, fingerprinting, DNA

fingerprinting, mammal identification using skulls and hair,

blood-typing, and interpretation of trace fossils and tracks. Once

trained, student investigators apply their newly learned forensic

techniques as they investigate a potential wildlife crime, determine

whether or not a crime has been committed, choose appropriate

analysis techniques, and draw conclusions about who-done-it. After

the forensic work is finished, students interview a cast of characters

who add eyewitness accounts to the data. Teams work together to

pool forensic data, press charges, and finish up with dramatic court

procedures.

WILDLIFE FORENSICS

Grade: 6th-8th


Wondrous Words

Do you delight in language? Does art stimulate

your imagination? Then join us in writing

wondrous words and creating illuminating

illustrations. Our class will drink in poetry and

study great art. Then we will become the masters,

creating our own inspiring pieces. At the end of

the session students will entertain an audience

with a poetry reading and a gallery display of

original artwork. Write, create, imagine and

dream with us this summer.!

AGE: 7-9


AGE: 9-14

Available: 12:30-3:30/10:00-11:30

Travel the world with excitement and cause for celebration. Your child

shall study geography, while incorporating celebrations and traditions

from many countries, including dance, food, and local customs. They shall

learn native dances, the reason for dance, meaning of movements, as well

as some local dress or foods. Explore dance and festivities from Africa,

Brazil, and many more!!

World Celebrations

& Expression

Age: 7-11


Goals:

Energy

Attention

Integration of Yoga as a teaching tool across all curricula

Character building

Environmental awareness

Connect to nature

Fitness fun

Feeling great

Objectives:

Provide students with simple behavior management strategies.

Revitalize students’ energy.

Establish appropriate outlets for excessive energy and emotional overload.

Reduce test anxiety via relaxation strategies.

Improve concentration.

Promote self-esteem, self-control, and respect for self and others.

Link learning to movement, addressing bodily-kinesthetic intelligence.

Honor students’ individual learning styles.

Integrate health, English/language arts, mathematics, fine arts, science, social studies, and music curriculum.

Build cooperation and communication skills.

Improve coordination, strength, balance, poster, and flexibility.

YOGA

AGE: 4-6

8:30-10:00

AGE: 7-9

2:00-3:30

Young Movie Makers

Description: Do you like movies? Would you even like to make and star

in your own movie? Well then this class is for you! The class is two weeks

long and will include all the elements of making a movie. With the help

of an experienced Gifted and Talented teacher who has a passion for

working with young children and technology, you will create your own

story idea, write a script, film and edit a movie. Your final product will be

ready to share with your family and friends.

AGE: 7-10


AGE: 11-14


Classes for the

GT Parent

Morning (8:30-11:30)

July 15-19: Fueling 21st Century Gifted Parenting with Creativity

July 22-26: Love & Logic-Easy Tips for the Gifted Parent

Afternoon (12:30-3:30)

July 15-26: Parent Scrapbooking|Parent Support Time

Nurturing Your Child’s Creativity:

Tips for Parents

Dr. Richard Shade

Jeffco SPARKS program

All children are creative. They are curious, ask questions, explore, are imaginative, and need self-expression. The challenge for you is to help your child become even more creative and support them to maintain their creativity through adolescence and adulthood, don’t you

agree? Creativity is a necessary 21st century skill, isn’t it? This workshop provides suggestions and strategies to parents about how to foster and encourage creativity and creative thinking in your child. Help teach your child to think creatively without the box!

You will learn:

- How to view mistakes differently for the rest of your life

- Why many creative behaviors are viewed negatively by teachers and parents

- Simple steps you can take to create a more creative climate at home

- How play is essential in the creative process

- A number of easy, fun, inexpensive creative activities you can do at home tonight with your child

- And much more!

Workshop Goals:

- To acquire new skills and activities related to creativity

- To plan to apply these at home

- To share your experiences with other parents

- To have fun!

Love & Logic Parenting

Easy Tips & Techniques for Gifted Kids

Dr. Richard Shade

Jeffco SPARKS program

Parenting gifted children can be demanding at times, don’t you agree? Their questions are non-stop. They remind us of promises we forgot long ago. Their chatter is constant. They are born lawyers. And neatness? What's neatness? If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Parenting is a challenge - any child, any age! No child is born with an

owner's manual, and gifted children come with their own unique challenges. This workshop presents simple techniques designed to effectively assist parents in dealing

with these everyday situations. As a result, the children become better decision makers, problem solvers, and thinkers while their parents become less stressed and enjoy

parenting more!

You will learn:

- The pluses and minuses of different parenting styles

- How to easily shared control (and the benefits)

- The power of choices

- Fighting words vs. thinking words

- Five steps to solving problems

- The advantages of delaying consequences

- How to avoid Brain Drain – yours!

- And more!

Workshop Goals:

- To share your experiences with other parents (you are not alone!)

- To introduce you to the Love & Logic Philosophy

- To allow you to acquire new parenting skills and techniques to try

- To begin a plan to apply some of these new skills at home

2013 sparks course guide

Documents

creative expression

creative sculpture

parents sparks

creative problem

animal creations

creativity of gifted

science super science

fiber artstextile design