1. C U R R I C U L U M N I G H T The “Creekside Kids” Team C U R R I C U L U M N I G H T September 10, 2012 HAG Vision Statement The aim of the Highly Academically Gifted Program is to develop future leaders who have the intellectual skills, attitudes, and character traits needed to meet the challenges of a complex, rapidly changing world. HAG Mission Statement Instructors will create a rigorous academic environment that provides numerous and varied interdisciplinary learning challenges utilizing the following instructional strategies: differentiation, shared inquiry, acceleration, enrichment, technology, and reflection.

2. Literature Works that may be read: A Single Shard, by Linda Sue Park A Wrinkle In Time, by Madeleine L’Engle In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, by Bette Bao Lord Out of the Dust, by Karen Hesse Al Capone Does My Shirts, by Gennifer Choldenko The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien The Cay, by Theodore Taylor Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine Drizzle, by Kathleen Van Cleve The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, by Rodman Philbrick The House of Dies Drear, by Virginia Hamilton The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis and others…

3. Math Topics include: Number Sense Data and Probability Measurement Pre-Algebra Superstars, USA Today, 24 Challenge

4. Science Topics include: Weather and Climate Water Cycle Heat Ecosystems Forces and Motion Cells Body Systems Genetics Conservation of Matter ExploraVision and Engineering is Elementary Kits will be a part of Science this year.

5. Language Arts Topics include: Note-taking Summarizing Presenting Expository Composition Persuasive Composition Poetry Writing Mechanics Grammar Vocabulary

6. Social Studies Topics include: U.S. Government U.S. Geography U. S. History through Reconstruction: –Native Americans –Explorers –Colonial America –Westward Expansion –Civil War –Reconstruction Economics

7. Technology Technology will be integrated throughout the curriculum. Possible tools include: LivebindersEdmodo GlogsterWord PowerPointExcel WikisMuseum Box BlogsPrezi Google MapsPhotoPeach Flip ChartsWikis & Blogs … and a wide variety of education search engines and databases

8. Other Information Arrival (morning work) and Dismissal Parent Assist Make-up Tests (Wednesdays) Tuesday Packets Family Life Field Trips (Camp Thunderbird-TBA; Spring Field Trip under discussion) “Creekside Kids” T-Shirts & USA Today Supplies

9. Homework Homework Policy #6154 adopted October 2009 explains the purpose, characteristics, guidelines, and completion time schedules.Homework Policy #6154 Average Time Estimate, excluding reading: Elementary gr. 5: 45-75 minutes daily Middle Schools gr. 6-8: 45-90 minutes daily