GKN Announcements

  Science and Social Studies Classes are $250 per semester

Astrobiology Grades 7-8
The field of Astrobiology asks three main questions: How does life begin and evolve? Does life exist elsewhere in the universe? What is the future of life on Earth and beyond? Through this unit, students will gain an appreciation for the many complexities of life, the basic necessities of life, the habitability of planets in our solar system, and how astrobiologists continue to develop this field. Students will explore how life emerges from cosmic and planetary precursors and understand the evolutionary mechanisms and environmental limits of life. Students will discuss the principles that will shape the future of life, both on Earth and beyond.

The Dynamic Earth Grades 7-8
Students will develop an understanding of the formation of the universe and all of its components. Students will understand the weathering processes and erosion that are responsible for much of the earth’s landscape. Students will explore plate tectonics, volcanoes, earthquakes, and the formation of mountains. Student will gain an understanding of the dynamic processes that occur each day in our atmosphere creating our climate regions and daily weather patterns.

Life on Earth Grades 5-6   Through hands on and virtual investigations, students will use skills and methodologies of practicing scientists. Students will investigate the characteristics that almost all living creatures share. Students will ask questions such as: how does life begin and evolve?; what is necessary for life to exist?;what is needed for life?; what are the common characteristics of life?Students will examine ecosystems to investigate life processes and the movement of energy through the ecosystem.

Ancient Civilizations    Grades 5-7  Students expand their understanding of history by studying the people and events that ushered in the dawn of the major Western and non-Western ancient civilizations. Geography is of special significance in the development these civilizations. Emphasis is placed on the daily lives, cultures, and accomplishments of people, their role in developing social, economic, and political structures, as well as in establishing and spreading ideas that helped transform the world. Students develop higher levels of critical thinking by considering why civilizations developed where and when they did, why they became dominant, and why they declined. Students analyze the interactions among the various cultures, emphasizing their enduring contributions and the link, despite time, between the contemporary and ancient worlds.
World Affairs/Current Events    Grades 7-8       
The complexities of today’s world are in part a consequence of changes that have been in the making for centuries. Students will study the modern world from the late 20th century to the present. Students will examine important historical continuities that link one period with another. And even though history may not repeat itself in any precise way, certain historical patterns do recur. Studying one development in world history in the light of an earlier, similar development can sharpen our understanding of both.  Students will be encouraged to examine current events for opportunities to take positive action in the world around them.

Spring Enrichment Classes - all classes begin January 15th - $100 for 8 weeks

Animal Planet
Is it fair for animals to be raised in captivity or is it better to allow them to roam free in the wild? What’s your opinion? We’ll examine the practices of wild life preserves, zoos, humane societies and more. We’ll be creating a virtual zoo based on what we learn about humane treatment of animals. We’ll be using wikis, discussion forums, Google SketchUp, VoiceThreads, and Animoto in this fun activity.  Open to students in grades 3-5. 

Digital Photography and Digital Stories
Students will receive an introduction to digital photography, photo editing and photo sharing. We will view and critique photographs taken by amateur and professional photographers to discover what make a great photo.  Students practice editing photos in a digital photo editor of their choice. Students may use free online tools or software they own. Open to students in grades 5-8.

Web Design
Learn to create your own web site. We will focus on web site layout, navigation structure, adding images and other special features. This class will focus on design principles, basic HTML, and the use of a free visual editor (PageBreeze). Open to students in grades 6-8.

Spring Class

selected>Web Design $100.00Digital Stories $100.00Animal Planet $100.00Astrobiology $250.00Life on Earth $250.00The Dynamic Earth $250.00Ancient Civilizations $250.00World Affairs $250.00

Student Name and Grade

The fall web design enrichment class begins November 1st.  There is still room in this course. To register go to http://www.giftedkidsnetwork.com/enrichment.htm

I am really excited to announce that the Gifted Kids Network will be utilizing some exciting new multimedia content libraries as part of our classes.  Students in the Gifted Kids Network classes will continue to utilize collaborative technologies such as blogs, wikis, discussion forums, voicethread and more to demonstrate their understanding of the content presented and to interact with other students.  Multimedia content libraries will add additional ways to engage students in the content and deliver high quality standards based instruction.

Discover! Science will be used in most of the science classes.  The use of Discover! Science will provide students with both written and audio versions of lessons to address both auditory and visual learning styles.  Discover! Science includes multimedia simulations, exercises, and documentaries.  

Digital History will be used in most of the history classes.  Digital history includes multimedia explorations, flash video, and primary source documents.

The Independent Investigation Method (IIM ) will be taught to all students in standards based classes. IIM provides students with a solid framework in conducting independent research projects.  Students will be guided through the research process including: topic selection, goal setting, note taking, organizing, creating a product, and doing a presentation.  Students will gain the skills needed to conduct thorough research without plagiarizing.

It’s been an exciting week for the Gifted Kids Network with two journals running stories about GKN.

Read the article about GKN in Tempo Magazine.

Read the article in Edweek.org

I will be teaching two classes this fall through BVSD Lifelong Learning: Tech Savvy Parenting and Cool Tools Rule for Tweens.   BVSD recently posted a blog about the Parenting class whidch is excerpted below:

A recent article posted on the PC Magazine website asks the question, “How Safe Are Your ‘Tweens Online?”. Internet safety is a huge topic among educators, parents, kids, teens and organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and for good reason.

According to a recent NCMEC study and pcmag.com, “By age seven, 60% of kids have been online; a number that jumps to 90% by age 9. Most tweens-kids between the age s of 8 and 12—stay on the internet for at least two hours a day.”

NCMEC and Cox Communications hosted an internet safety summit in July and found that approximately “28 percent of tweens reported having been contacted by a stranger while online. About 18 percent did not tell anyone about being contacted, while 11% responded to a stranger.”

Not only do kids and teens need to be aware of internet predators, but internet bullying is on the rise. NCMEC reports 22 percent of kids have friends that have been bullied online.

These statistics can be unsettling for parents. How can you keep your Tweens protected and safe on the internet? BVSD’s Lifelong Learning is addressing these concerns by offering a Tech Savvy Parenting class to help educate parents of the latest technologies and how to keep kids safe on the internet. Here are the class details:

Tech Savvy Parenting
Become familiar with the technologies tweens and teens are using. We will look at what the technologies are, how to help keep your kids safe online, and suggestions for using technology to support student growth. A materials fee of $10 is payable to the instructor in class.

Monday, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM; 3 sessions starting October 13, 2008, ending October 27, 2008 Cost $89, Materials Fee $10
Location: New Vista High School in Boulder

To register for this class, please visit www.bvsd.org/LLL or call 303-499-1125 x222.
To view the PC Magazine article, please visit http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2326289,00.asp.

Students 9-12 years old might enjoy Cool Tools Rule for Tech Savvy Kids

Have fun creating online multi-media projects as we learn about digital photography, digital stories, web design, and more. Students will have the option of selecting an area of interest and creating an online project to demonstrate their passion to the world, or choose to create a multi-media project for a nonprofit organization as a community service project. 

Thursday, 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM; 6 sessions starting November 6, 2008, ending December 18, 2008
      Cost $129 , Materials Fee $25; Location: Boulder - Eisenhower Elementary
      Important:  No class Thanksgiving week.

Summer classes are officially over.  I hope your child has enjoyed learning new web 2.0 technologies and engaging in some interesting content this summer.  If your child did not complete their summer assignments, please let them know that they still can.  I will be monitoring the summer class site for the next two weeks and will be happy to continue to give feedback to students on their work.   If you have any comments or suggestions on the program, I always appreciate feedback.

I am now registering for Fall Classes.  The class options are listed below and you may register through the web site.

Science Classes

Social Studies Classes

Enrichment Classes

Terms of Use Agreement

You will notice that the cost of the fall classes as increased as I will be included significantly more multimedia content and the licensing fees for this content require increased class costs.  I’m sorry to have to pass along these costs to you; however, I know the students will love these new multimedia lessons and simulations!  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Students in the summer classes are finishing up their final projects this week. The zoo exhibits are coming out fabulous. Take a a look at a few that have been finished and feel free to leave comments below for the students.

You can see all of the student work on the public page of our wiki.   Even though the class has officially ended, students can continue to submit their final projects and I will update the wiki with the additional projects.  I hope you have all enjoyed this class.

Summer Update #3

Students in the Animal Planet class have begun to create their animal VoiceThreads.  Parents, you can visit the wiki to view student work in progress.   For the protection and safety of students, our work pages are private and can only be viewed by approved ‘members’.   Parents, email Michelle to request permission to view the wiki.

Students in the Cool Tools class are working on their digital stories this week and beginning to learn about web site design.  Students have been working really hard and I notice that some of them are falling a bit behind.  Summer is busy for everyone and I know it’s hard for the kids to keep up when they are busy with so many other things.  I’d like to extend the program through August 1^st. The additional time will be for students who need more time to complete their final project.  There will not be specific lessons during this time period but I will continue to log in and provide the kids with feedback on their projects, answer questions, and allow them to continue to use the resources I’ve already posted.  Hopefully this will allow everyone to work through all of the lessons provided and complete their project.  There is no additional charge for the additional time. 

World Affairs and Current Events Grades 7-8
The complexities of today’s world are in part a consequence of changes that have been in the making for centuries. Students will study the modern world from the late 20th century to the present. Students will examine important historical continuities that link one period with another. And even though history may not repeat itself in any precise way, certain historical patterns do recur. Studying one development in world history in the light of an earlier, similar development can sharpen our understanding of both. Students will be encouraged to examine current events for opportunities to take positive action in the world around them.
Representative Topics: Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf War, Modern Genocides, Global Health issues, and the Arab/Israel Conflict.

 United States History pre-Columbian -1850 Grades 5-6 

Students study the development of the nation up to 1850. Students will examine early explorers in America, the effects of the collision of Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans, as well as the characteristics of early colonies in the New World. Students will use skills of historical and geographical analysis to explore the early history of the United States and understand ideas and events that strengthened the union. Students will recognize that the United States has a constitution that derives its power from the people, which has gone through a revolution that once sanctioned slavery, that experienced conflict over land with the original inhabitants, and that experienced a westward movement that took its people across the continent. Students will continue to learn fundamental concepts in civics, economics, and geography as they study United States history in chronological sequence and learn about change and continuity in our history. They also will study documents and speeches that laid the foundation of American ideals and institutions and will examine the everyday life of people at different times in the country’s history through the use of primary and secondary sources.
Representative Topics: Age of Exploration, pre-Columbian settlements, Colonization, American Revolution, Growth and Westward Expansion.

 Ancient Civilizations Grades 5-7
Students expand their understanding of history by studying the people and events that ushered in the dawn of the major Western and non-Western ancient civilizations. Geography is of special significance in the development these civilizations. Emphasis is placed on the daily lives, cultures, and accomplishments of people, their role in developing social, economic, and political structures, as well as in establishing and spreading ideas that helped transform the world. Students develop higher levels of critical thinking by considering why civilizations developed where and when they did, why they became dominant, and why they declined. Students analyze the interactions among the various cultures, emphasizing their enduring contributions and the link, despite time, between the contemporary and ancient worlds.
Representative Topics: Fertile Crescent, Ancient Egypt, Ancient India, Ancient China, Ancient Americas, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome

Course Requested	World Affairs and Current Events (grades 7-8)Ancient Civilizations (grades 5-7)US History (grades 5-6)
Student Name and Grade

 

After completing Paypal registration, you will receive a seperate emal from Michelle with your log in ID and information on how to access the course.

Astrobiology Grades 7-8
The field of Astrobiology asks three main questions: How does life begin and evolve? Does life exist elsewhere in the universe? What is the future of life on Earth and beyond? Through this unit, students will gain an appreciation for the many complexities of life, the basic necessities of life, the habitability of planets in our solar system, and how astrobiologists continue to develop this field. Students will explore how life emerges from cosmic and planetary precursors and understand the evolutionary mechanisms and environmental limits of life. Students will discuss the principles that will shape the future of life, both on Earth and beyond.
Representative Topics: History of Life on Earth, Chemistry of Life, Cells and Cellular Functions, Life in Extreme Environments, Habitability of other Planets/Moons.

The Dynamic Earth Grades 7-8 
Students will develop an understanding of the formation of the universe and all of its components. Students will understand the weathering processes and erosion that are responsible for much of the earth’s landscape. Students will explore plate tectonics, volcanoes, earthquakes, and the formation of mountains. Student will gain an understanding of the dynamic processes that occur each day in our atmosphere creating our climate regions and daily weather patterns.
Representative Topics: Rocks and Minerals, Atmosphere, Greenhouse Effect, Plate Tectonics, Carbon Cycle, Weather, Water Cycle, Pollution, and Alternative Energy.

Life on Earth Grades 5-6
Through hands on and virtual investigations, students will use skills and methodologies of practicing scientists. Students will investigate the characteristics that almost all living creatures share. Students will ask questions such as: how does life begin and evolve?; what is necessary for life to exist?;what is needed for life?; what are the common characteristics of life?Students will examine ecosystems to investigate life processes and the movement of energy through the ecosystem.
Representative Topics: Basic needs of life, ecosystems, life processes, water cycle, photosynthesis, food webs.

After completing the Paypal registration, you will receive a seperate email (within 24 hours)  from Michelle with log in information and instructions for accessing your class.

Course Requested	Astrobiology (grades 7-8)The Dynamic Earth (grades 7-8)Life on Earth (grades 5-6)
Student Name and Grade