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Welcome |
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My Mission For S.O.A.R To prepare each student, in a positive environment, to be responsible, successful, and ready for future challenges. |
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About the S.O.A.R. Program: Our Gifted & Talented Program in District 49 is called S.O.A.R. S.O.A.R. stands for Student Opportunities for Academic Richness. The program provides students with opportunities to enrich their learning. We have a pull-out program for Third – Fifth Grade that meets one hour two to three times weekly. The S.O.A.R. pullout program in Falcon District 49 uses a flexible schedule that targets the strength of each student. This means that placement is not guaranteed for the entire year since a different subject emphasis is offered each quarter, and the subject may not be in the area of the child’s strength. A student is included in the S.O.A.R. program based on data which includes:
Each quarter S.O.A.R. focuses on a different content area and students qualify based on their strengths. The first quarter of this year had a Literacy focus. The second quarter focus is Science, the third is Math, and the fourth is Social Studies. Since we are striving to become an IB School, all units of study will align with the IB Attitudes of gaining: appreciation, confidence, commitment, curiosity, creativity, empathy, independence, integrity, and respect. All academic classes are aligned with the Colorado State Standards for Reading, Writing, Math, and Science. About the Enrichment Program: High achieving First and Second Graders are included in an enrichment class that provides opportunities to enrich their learning. Selection is based on classroom performance and students are recommended by their teachers. Placement is subject to change from quarter to quarter since we try to accommodate as many high achieving students as possible. Classroom Procedures: The S.O.A.R. program is offered for one hour, two to three times a week for an entire quarter.
There will be no regular assigned homework in the S.O.A.R. class; however, there may be ongoing projects in which a student may choose to do additional work at home. All long-term projects will be given sufficient class time to complete the assignment. Each student will receive a standards-based grading rubric at the beginning and end of each quarter. This rubric will be explained along with the contract, on the first day of class, and will then be marked and sent home with the classroom report cards at the end of the quarter. Discipline Policy: Because the S.O.A.R. program is a pull-out class, there is a near-zero tolerance for any discipline problems. These will be handled as follows; Any student who continues to disrupt the learning of others………
Second Quarter: Science Inquiry Units First Graders: A Inquiry Study for Researching Information For the second quarter, First Grade SOAR students will choose a topic from a pre-selected list of subjects and will use the Children's' Encyclopedia & the Little Explorer Internet Dictionary to find and write answers to specific questions. They will then share their information in an oral presentation. Website students will be using to research information: LittleExplorers.com Second Graders: A Inquiry Study of Weather and the Water Cycle Acting as meteorologists, Second Grade SOAR students will study what a meteorologist does, weather instruments, how seasons create change, the water cycle, weather patterns on the Earth, severe weather safety, and how weather affects our daily lives. Students will have tasks to complete by using websites and text resources. As a final project, student teams will create a weather report to present to their peers. Please click here for some interesting weather websites: The Weather
Channel: http://www.weather.com/ Weather Around the World - Research Use the following websites to find out what the weather is like in different countries http://www.meto.gov.uk/index.html http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/ Websites for Research
Here
are links to some websites to help you conduct research on various weather
topics: See pictures of
different kinds of weather. Read
a "Weather Book" online: Read Second Grade poems about clouds in the sky: http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/rollman/98/clouds.htm Use the Interactive Weather Maker: http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/winter/blizzard/ Print out a copy of the "Weather Dictionary": http://www.education.com/common/resources/lp/lng/980112kl.pdf Third Graders: An Inquiry Study of Inventors & the Invention Process Students will gain insight into the creative process of inventing as they research inventors and see how their inventions have changed our lives. Students will then practice the creative process of brainstorming, tinkering, & actually creating their own inventions. They will patent their inventions, advertise & market the product, and defend it when faced with a Consumer Advocacy group composed of their classmates. Please click here for some interesting invention websites: Leonardo Da VinciNational Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci By Kids For Kids - World's Largest Site for Kid Inventors & Free American Patenting Support for Kids cbc4kids History of Inventions, a timeline from Pottery to Computers. http--www.inventored.org-k-12-inv-hist.html Invention of the Pencil - EnchantedLearning.com Inventors and Inventions Theme Page John Lee Love and the Pencil Sharpener Kid Inventors in History Inventions Popsicle Calculator Alaskan Flag Learn about Inventors and their Inventions Yahooligans! - Science and NatureMachinesInventions Young Inventor History - A Class Act, Young Inventors Canada Science and Technology Museum dirtmeister Simple Machines -- Investigate the Facts inQuiry Almanack - Spotlighting... - March, 1997 inventorstoolbox The Elements of Machines MIKIDS - the only site you need! Quiz MIKIDS - the only site you need! Canada Science and Technology Museum2 Canada Science and Technology Museum http--www.gecdsb.on.ca-d&g-dougpete-webquests-playground-ResourcesR.pdf inventorstoolbox The Elements of Machines MIKIDS - the only site you need! Fourth Graders: A Hands-on Inquiry Study into Newton’s Three Laws of Motion Students will experiment freely with familiar toys & objects. As they explain their observations, they delve into the basic physics of motion. Students will also investigate the relationship among force, energy, power, and work & then explore the devices that make work easier. They will read about satellite motion - how satellites are placed in orbit and how they stay there. Please click here for some interesting physics websites: http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/explore/physics.htm http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/directory/Physics.htm http://sciencespot.net/Pages/kdzphysics.html http://www.kidsolr.com/science/page17.html http://www.simplyscience.com/physicalslinks.html http://www.surfnetkids.com/physics.htm http://www.npac.syr.edu/textbook/kidsweb/physics.html http://www.jlab.org/~cecire/Bedtime.html http://www.deathstar.org/~krlipka/wisdom/kidquotes.html http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/physics.htm http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/wordphysics.htm http://www.google.com/Top/Kids_and_Teens/School_Time/Science/Physics/ http://www.kids.gov/6_8/6_8_science_physics.shtml http://www.studysphere.com/Site/Sphere_5898.html http://www.nsta.org/recommendedsitees http://www.physicscentral.com/ http://howthingswork.virginia.edu/ http://demoroom.physics.ncsu.edu/ http://www.compadre.org/informal/ http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/index.pl Fifth Graders: An Inquiry Study & Simulation of a Flight to the Moon The second & third quarters will be spent working on a solar system inquiry unit, “Return to the Moon”. SOAR Fifth Grade students will become a team of scientists and engineers acting as astronauts and mission controllers on a daring exploration of the moon. Their goal will be to successfully leave Earth's orbit, enter into a lunar orbit, choose the best lunar landing site and build and launch a probe to the lunar surface. This inquiry unit will continue for two quarters and applies mathematics, science and technology; addresses state and national standards across curricular areas; and emphasizes workplace competencies and career exploration. In February, students will attend a two and a half hour session at The Challenger Learning Center of Colorado. This is a space-based learning environment where students fly simulated space missions. The simulator features a Mission Control Center modeled after NASA’s Johnson Space Center, as well as an International Space Station where experiments are performed and probes are “launched” into the depths of outer space. Please click here for some interesting solar system websites: Stunning Images Available to Everyone! Planets, Asteroids and Comets Planetary Photojournal http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html Welcome to the Planets http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets Planetary Data System http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov Sun and Moon SOHO Mission http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/gallery Moon Missions http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/imgcat/html/group_page/EM.html Earth Missions Radar Images of Earth http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/dataprod.htm Astronauts’ Views of Earth http://earth.jsc.nasa.gov/sseop/efs Oceanography http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov NASA’s Earth Observatory http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov Landsat Images http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/images Astrophysics Sites Hubble Space Telescope http://hubblesite.org/newscenter Infrared Images: http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/image_galleries/missions_gallery.html X-Ray Images http://chandra.harvard.edu/index.html Gamma-Ray Images http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/epo/gallery/index.html Helpful Sites Great Images in NASA http://grin.hq.nasa.gov NASA Image Exchange http://nix.nasa.gov Web Sites for Researching Space Related Careers http://www.spacelinks.com/SpaceCareers/ Students can explore various companies that involve specific space careers. http://mgs-mager.gsfc.nasa.gov/Kids/careers.html Offers biographies to read and explore in specific space careers. http:/www.nasa.gov/about/career/ Offers information about internships, summer employment, careers at NASA and shares tips from Sally Ride on becoming an astronaut. Guide to Astronomy Internet Sites American Astronomical Society: http://www.aas.org digital editions of The Astronomical Journal and The Astrophysical Journal. Armagh Observatory: http://star.arm.ac.uk observatory in Ireland that conducts a wide variety of space and stellar research. The Best of the Hubble Space Telescope: http://www.seds.org/hst/hst.html over 100 excellent images of objects in the universe. FMA Live! : http://www.fmalive.com/ information about the FMA Live tour and contains excellent lesson plans, such as rocket racer and bottle rockets. Galileo Project: http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo : information about NASA’s unmanned mission to explore Jupiter. Johnson Space Center: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/home/index.html : up-todate information about the space program. Mars Exploration Program: http://mpfwww.jpl.nasa.gov NASA’s mission to explore and set foot on Mars. Meteorite Central: http://www.meteoritecentral.com general information about meteorites and meteoroids. NASA Home Page: http://www.nasa.gov NASA is deeply committed to space education. Near Earth Object Program: http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/neo information and images of comets, meteoroids and asteroids. The SETI Project: http:///www.seti.org contains current astronomical news and has an informative education link. Space Camp for Educators: http://www.honeywell.com/sites/hhs/ information about scholarships from Honeywell to attend space camp. Stardust: http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html : up-to-date information about the research on Comet Wild 2 samples. Whyville: http://www.whyville.net/smmk/nice : fun astronomy site for younger students. Contains cosmic classroom with lesson plans and cosmic games, such as What is it? And the Spectrum Game. *You are always welcome & encouraged to attend your student’s SOAR class. Please check in with the office before coming out to the SOAR modular. If you have any questions or concerns, please-e-mail or call me. I always welcome your suggestions & input. Thanks for the opportunity to work with your child this year.
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