Enrichment ClustersSpring 2017 Brochure

St. Columba School7800 Livingston Road

Oxon Hill, MD

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Table of Contents

Introduction..........................................................3Multiple Intelligences …...................................... 4Registration instructions …................................. 6Cluster descriptions .............................................7Contact information …........................................11

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Introduction for Parents

Spring 2017 will conclude our fourth year of Brain Power Hour, an enrichment opportunity for every student in grades 2 - 5! A great variety of clusters have given our students an opportunity to reach, connect, invent, create, and learn.

The program will continue to run for six consecutive Thursday afternoons, alternating between 5th, 6th and 7th periods.

The “Brain Power Hour” program is based on Dr. Joseph Renzulli’s concept of enrichment as presented in his Schoolwide Enrichment Model. The mission of this model is to “apply the pedagogy of gifted education to enrichment opportunities for all students.” Using this format, we are better able to meet the needs of our students.

Brain Power Hour will begin on January 19, 2017 and conclude on March 9, 2017. Each opportunity or “cluster” will be facilitated by teachers and other qualified professionals. There will be approximately 12-15 students in a cluster. Each cluster will also be multi-aged, drawing students from the grades for which the cluster is designed.

Each student will pick 3 options from the cluster offerings. Students will complete a registration form indicating these choices in school on Friday, January 13, 2017. Please be sure that your child will be happy with any of the 3 choices. Once registration is complete, the cluster rosters will be compiled and students will be notified of their Spring cluster on the day of the first session, January 19, 2017.

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These clusters have been designed as curriculum enrichment. They are not “clubs” or “just for fun;” however, they are meant to be enjoyable and engaging at the same time as they stretch and enrich your child’s thinking and application skills. As such, this is a required activity, a part of your child’s learning experience, just like any other class.

When considering the cluster choices, please talk with your child about his/her interests and use that as a guiding principle when looking at the cluster content. In making selections, it might be helpful to reflect on past cluster experiences and other activities your child is interested in.

All cluster options may require work beyond what is done during regular meeting time. The facilitator will keep the cluster participants advised about any “homework.” There is a blog where you can check out what is going on in the various clusters. To access the blog, go to the “Brain Power Hour” entry under the “Teacher Page” on the St. Columba website.

Multiple Intelligences*

Harvard psychologist Dr. Howard Gardner developed the theory of Multiple Intelligences (MI). Each person has different intelligences or ways of interacting with the world. For each person, these intelligences are all present, but combined in a unique way. Curriculum ideally involves use of multiple intelligences to engage students more thoroughly by capitalizing on differences in abilities, strengths and learning style preferences. The use of multiple intelligences in enrichment is an essential component of Dr. Renzulli’s Schoolwide Enrichment Model. The multiple intelligences are presented here in graphic format.

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Each cluster will attempt to address a variety, but not necessarily all, of the multiple intelligences. By the nature of the cluster topics, some will more strongly tie to a specific set of intelligences. The cluster description will hopefully aid in this discernment. All clusters are intended to be highly interactive, involving students in various processes and projects.

* The graphic representation of the multiple intelligences can be found at http://comicsworkshop.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/poster-multiple-intelligences-in-comics-ed/, accessed 8//10/2013, used with permission.

Registration

In an effort to make registration more student driven, an emphasis of Dr. Renzulli’s model, registration will occur in school only. The spring brochure will be sent home Monday, January 9, 2017. This will provide time for you to review the choices available to your child. Registration will take place on Friday, January 13, 2017. Any students absent that day will be registered upon their return to school.

As this is an opportunity to enrich your child’s interests, we seek your assistance in making this the most positive experience it can be. Please take the time to discuss the cluster choices with your child before Friday, January 13, 2017.

“Enjoyment ~ Engagement ~ Enthusiasm”- Dr. Joseph Renzulli

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Cluster Descriptions

All clusters will be facilitated by teachers or other qualified professionals. In choosing a cluster, the focus should be the content of the cluster balanced with the interests of your child.

Columba Coding Company

What do computer scientists, engineers, and video game developers have in common? The same thing President Obama, superstar Shakira, and NBA All-Star Chris Bosh do! They can all code in a computer programming language! Programs (or lines of code) tell the computer, smartphone, or video game what to display or calculate. As part of the Columba Coding Company, you will learn to write step-by-step instructions for programs, debug code, and create a simple game. If you like using computers, being creative, or solving problems, this is the cluster for you! Open to grades 3-5.

Driving question: How do we use code to communicate with a computer?

Multiple Intelligences: Logical/Mathematical, Linguistic, Visual/Spatial

Order Up!

Join the Order Up! Restaurateurs and have it your way! Would you like fries with that? Super size your

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business savvy by designing your own special restaurant, creating a new unique menu, and hiring your own dedicated employees! Are you lovin’ it? Open to grades 3 and 4.

Driving Question: What considerations must be made to establish and execute a business plan for a successful fast food restaurant?

Multiple Intelligences: Linguistic, Visual/Spatial, Logical/Mathematical, Interpersonal

American Treasure Hunters

We live in the United States of America but how much do you really know about this big country? Do you ever wonder which state was the first in the union, which was last, which is home to the Grand Canyon, or which has a capital named Madison? Join this cluster and learn how all the states fit together as well as some interesting things about each of the states of America. The cluster will create a travel album to share. Open to grades 2-4.

Driving Question: How can collecting information about many different states increase your understanding of the whole United States?

Multiple intelligences: Linguistic, Visual/Spatial, Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, Naturalist

The Great Arctic Circle Challenge!

“On a cold winter day, in the dark early morning hours, a group of scientists set out for the Arctic Circle. They

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were well-prepared for the trip with enough supplies and equipment to survive the frigid tundra, but what began as an exciting adventure turned into a disastrous expedition. It is now up to you to help the group survive and return to safety.” Accept the challenge and then design five different means of helping to rescue the stranded explorers. Open to grades 3-5.

Driving question: How does teamwork and the dynamics/environment of a situation influence problem solving?

Multiple Intelligences: Logical/Mathematical, Visual/Spatial, Bodily Kinesthetic, Interpersonal

Puzzle-It!

I need a piece that has 3 knobs and a little yellow on one knob...a piece that is all red except of 2 dots of green...They all fit together to form a picture. How do you decide on how many pieces? How big? What might be a popular theme? How can we make it 3-D? Come explore the world of jigsaw puzzles and create your own. Open to grades 2-5. Driving Question: How can students work together to understand and then create a puzzle others can enjoy? Multiple Intelligences: Visual/Spatial, Bodily Kinesthetic, Inter/Intra personal

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Reader’s Theater: The Fables of Aesop

Lights! Camera! Voices! Drama with a twist - no lines to memorize or staging to worry about - just dramatic voices and lots of fun. Take a part in a few already prepared fable script and then launch your own Aesop Fable variant production. Open to grades 4-5.

Driving Question: How can reading/performing various versions of a traditional fables increase your understanding of how these lessons might apply to all of us today?

Multiple intelligences: Linguistic, Visual/Spatial,

Mission Possible

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to fall into enemy territory, infiltrate the ranks of the Resistance, and relay any intel back to HQ via codenames. Agents will play, analyze, and review, various spy themed board and card games that teach reasoning skills as well as logical and social deduction. Additionally, agents will be debriefed on the role of espionage throughout history going from carrier pigeons all the way to the modern field agent spy. Open to grades 3-5.

Driving Question: How is the construction of a game influenced by the game’s theme?

Multiple Intelligences: Logical/Mathematical, Bodily Kinesthetic, Linguistic, Visual/Spatial, Interpersonal

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The I-Team

Catholic School’s Week, Father/Daughter dance, Valentine’s Day, Science Fair, BPH clusters, service projects….What’s the inside scoop? This cluster will be a dynamic team of “investigative” (I in I-Team) reporters and filmmakers, seeking to get you all the information you want to know! Open to grades.2-4

Driving Question What steps are required before and after you gather information about a “news” event?

Multiple Intelligences: Bodily Kinesthetic, Linguistic, Visual/Spatial, Interpersonal

Questions?

Should you have any questions regarding the Brain Power Hour! program, please contact:

Cindy Flores or Cindy Cobleigh, Co-Coordinators301-567-6212 or leave a message with the school office. We will get back to you.

Thank you for your support!!

“ A rising tide lifts all ships.” 11

- Dr. Joseph Renzulli

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