Talented and Gifted enrichment activities

Sixth Grade

Physical Education - Mr. Anderson and Ms. Stelk

Muscle and bone nomenclature – opportunity to learn the remaining muscle groups and bones beyond the basic major groups.  Options are provided in PE for kinesthetically skilled students to excel in inter-task variation by competing in peer groups. 

Art - Mrs. Dengler

Students may complete extra sketchbook drawings to improve drawing skills to a higher level, creativity, observation skills.  More elaborate one-point perspective drawings with more details and shading.  Higher level pattern skills with more complicated patterns in weaving, repeating color patterns, more difficult techniques (all seven techniques).  All students are presented the opportunity to write a research report on a visual artist of their choice, i.e. Picasso, Andy Warhol, etc.

Family and Consumer Science - Ms. Ahn

Child care project computer may be programmed to require more attention and care.  They may create a poster to show how to protect our shared resources and may also research different conservation methods of natural resources. (water conservation, fuel efficient cars ,etc.)  Extend the decision making process by planning out a healthy menu for one day, vs. one meal.

Industrial Technology - Ms. Smit

Oral presentation of Egg Lander design - Presentations can be very creative in dress, visuals, style, handouts, methods. Digital Cartography - Higher-level fill and text options, drawing rivers. Calendar Project - Three levels of project can merely support or challenge creativity: 1) adapt calendar provided, 2) create calendar from grid, 3) create calendar from scratch

General Music - Mr. Travis

Advanced music students will encouraged to identify components of music theory beyond the basics. Advanced recognition of rhythm patterns involving triplets and different meters is encouraged. Recognition of additional music intervals is encouraged.  Complete an analysis of a modern song structure in conjunction with their music report.

Seventh Grade

Physical Education - Mr. Anderson and Mrs. Engel

Calorie and activity log – investigate the results of certain diets.  Options are provided in PE for kinesthetically skilled students to excel in inter-task variation by competing in peer groups. 

Art - Mrs. Dengler

Students may complete extra sketchbook drawings to improve drawing skills to a higher level, creativity, observation skills.  Ceramics – larger pots, more difficult hand-built techniques, combination techniques, more elaborate and detailed patterns and designs.  Painting – develop the painting with more of a three-dimensional effect with a higher skill use of color and value.  Photography – More varied tone quality and thematic composition. All students are presented the opportunity to write a research report on a visual artist of their choice, i.e. Picasso, Andy Warhol, etc.

Family and Consumer Science - Ms. Ahn

Food guide diary – may choose to create for a person with special dietary restrictions, diabetes, wheat gluten, etc.  Opportunity to create a menu to not only meet all the food groups, but also the dietary guides.

Industrial Technology - Ms. Smith

Bridge building - Accelerated students are encouraged to take digital photographs of others as they finish their bridges and then process the images in Photoshop. If a bridge is finished with enough time left, a second bridge can be built.  This time supplies are restricted to only six pieces of wood – a challenge in both planning and construction skill. Technical Documentation - Extra credit is given for visual or written background information provided in report. Technical Career Research - Accelerated students can choose a series of jobs (instead of just one) to create a career line.  Increasing training needs, responsibilities, and rewards would be covered. Cartooning - Cartoons can be very creative in sources and execution.

General Music - Mr. Travis

Students will be assigned to more advanced areas of study during the Star-Spangled Banner unit, including research on the history of the song, analysis of it’s musical form and an account of the war of the time period.  Advanced students will be encouraged to learn and identify a greater number of Italian tempo markings.  Advanced recognition of rhythm patterns including syncopation is encouraged.  Accelerated piano players will be offered additional harmonies for right hand and ostinatos for the left hand.

Eighth Grade

Physical Education - Mr. Anderson and Ms. Stelk

Fitness components – personalized fitness plan with a specific goal, based on performance enhancement or weakness.  Options are provided in PE for kinesthetically skilled students to excel in inter-task variation by competing in peer groups. 

Art - Mrs. Dengler

Students may complete extra sketchbook drawings to improve drawing skills to a higher level, creativity, observation skills.  Drawing – develop a theme to express their own personal ideas and beliefs through the use of various drawing methods and techniques in the drawing of their hands.  Relief printing – develop a higher level of detail and drawing with a higher complexity of combining line, color, shape, pattern, texture and detail  to express their own ideas of promoting the protection of endangered animals with an “attention getting” color scheme.  Water color – students develop an awareness of wash proficiencies and are able to successfully use various wash techniques in the creation of  a water color painting.  Students are able to successfully communicate and express  personal ideas and beliefs through water color media. All students are presented the opportunity to write a research report on a visual artist of their choice, i.e. Picasso, Andy Warhol, etc.

Family and Consumer Science - Ms. Ahn

Budget project – complete budget project with varied income and sources of income.  Media Literacy – students may develop a health related advertisement and create a “counter ad” in print or electronic medium.

Industrial Technology - Ms. Smith

Basic Aeronautics - Gliders can follow simple, successful pattern or be improved with researched design. Rocket Construction & Testing - Although virtually all lessons are conducted in groups, there are opportunities for creativity and performance refinement in rocket design. Windmill Competition - Advanced students can drive improvement to anemometers and go on to build a functioning windmill. Tech Yard Wars - Electric vehicles can be very creative in resources and execution. Potential Energy Machine - Potential energy machines can be very creative in resources and execution. Self-Promotion Sheet - Promotion sheets can be very creative in execution.

General Music - Mr. Travis

Origins of Medieval and Renaissance folk songs may be researched and incorporated into chant and round group projects. Original melodies, in the appropriate style, may be performed with each project. Baroque song analysis may be done alone, without a group.  Great Musical Works study may include longer sections, with analysis of classic form.  Students are encouraged to act-out scenes from their composer’s life for the video biography.

BAND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Physical Education - Mr. Loest

Franzen Band Students

Tetrachord Scale Award

Peacock Band Students

Scale Master Award Level 1 – Major Scales

Scale Master Award Level 2 – Natural Minor Scales

Scale Master Award Level 3 – Harmonic Minor Scales

Band Honor Roll Award – Quarterly

Perfect Attendance Award – Quarterly

Best Marcher Award – Memorial Day Parade

Student Mentor Award – Tutor Younger Musicians

Instrumentation Award – Play 2 Different Instruments

Music Librarian Award

Most Improved Musician Award

Quarterly Seating Tryouts – Concert Band

VanderCook College of Music HonorFest – Concert Band Section Leaders

Illinois Music Educators Association District Honor Band – Tryouts Required

Northshore Festival of Music – Concert Band

Director’s Award – Top Eighth Student

Drum Major Award – Memorial Day Parade

Illinois Grade School Music Association Contest – Jazz Band

Sammy Nestico Award – Top Jazz Band Student

Solos – Jazz Band