Maximizing Learning Potential: Mystery Camp

Monday, June 8, 2009

Mystery Camp

The kids enjoyed their first day of Mystery Camp! The day started with a mystery that they acted out. All six kids are very good readers and a few even read with a lot of expression! It was a blast! Aiden (Will) had a special role. Since he didn't have very many lines, he was the designated photographer. We got lots of pictures from MANY different angles!

We began the novel The Westing Game and discussed higher level thinking questions. Although Maddie had quite a bit of trouble writing questions at first, she began to catch on once the others got going. We wrote low and high level questions to go along with "The Three Little Pigs." One of the questions they came up with was "Why did the wolf keep trying to blow down the brick house even though it was a really strong building?" They also wondered, "What will the wolf do now that he's been tricked?" The thought level of these kids is amazing. We can have a real discussion in which all 6 are involved! When I used to do this activity with my students, it was like pulling teeth to get any thoughts from the kids.

Ede tried to work with Hunter while I was teaching the others. He had one of his stubborn streaks and threw two books down and refused to pick them up. She tried EVERYTHING to get him to pick up the books, but to no avail! Later on in the morning, I told him it was time to practice piano. He informed me that he wanted to practice with Ede. She told him she would, but first he had to pick up the two books. He went straight over and put the books away! Stinker!

After reading the first couple chapters of the Westing Game, we began to write down the characters that have been introduced so far. We read that there is a bomber, a bookie, a burglar, and a mistake living in the Sunset Towers. No one knew what a bookie was, but Ella thought it was a pretty funny word :)

We discussed literature circles and the "homework" they will have to complete tonight. Haley was the "word whacker" and has already come up with a list of about 20 new words to teach the group tomorrow. Maddie is the summarizer, so I will reread the chapter with her tonight and help her summarize it. Tomorrow we will meet and discuss our jobs in the group.

Next, Rachel began her Amelia Earhart mystery. First, the kiddos had to plot her life on a timeline. They got into pairs to complete it. Then they worked on mapping out one of her flights. It was a little tricky because some of the countries no longer exist. Tomorrow they will do news stories on the disappearance of Amelia Earhart. I can't wait to see them report the story!

We ended the day with a couple hours of swimming in the pool! Luckily, the bad storms abated by noon and the sun came out.

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Is it a Cheetah?

When we think of cheetahs we are likely to think first of their speed. It's flashy. It is impressive. It's unique. If a cheetah is confined to a 10 X 12 foot cage, though it may pace or fling itself against the bars in restless frustration, it won't run 70 mph.

IS IT STILL A CHEETAH?

If a cheetah has only 20 mph rabbits to chase for food, it won't run 70 mph while hunting.

A school system that defines giftedness (or talent) as behavior, achievement and performance is as compromised in its ability to recognize its highly gifted students and to give them what they need as a zoo would be to recognize and provide for its cheetahs if it looked only for speed.

However, schools are to extraordinarily intelligent children what zoos are to cheetahs. Many schools provide a 10 x 12 foot cage, giving the unusual mind no room to get up to speed. Many highly gifted children sit in the classroom the way big cats sit in their cages, dull-eyed and silent. Some, unable to resist the urge from inside even though they can't exercise it, pace the bars, snarl and lash out at their keepers, or throw themselves against the bars until they do themselves damage.
In some schools brilliant children are asked to do what they were never designed to do while the attributes that are a natural aspect of unusual mental capacity -- intensity, passion, high energy, independence, moral reasoning, curiosity, humor, unusual interests and insistence on truth and accuracy -- are considered problems that need fixing.

Exerpts from Stephanie S. Tolan ©1996

Work Samples

Manatees (unedited)
By Haley
05/14/09

Manatees are very different than other animals. Manatees are aquatic mammals. They are also endangered. Manatees live in warm waters. They are very slow. Manatees are related to elephants. Manatees never hurt any other animal.

Manatees are funny looking creatures. Manatees are a grey- brown color. They are known as sea cows. A baby manatee weighs about 60 pounds. A grown manatee weighs about 1000 pounds. Sharp propellers from motor boats scar the manatees back.

Manatees have to lots of things after they have a baby. A mother manatee always stays near her calf. Manatees always teach there calf which plants are safe to eat. Manatees usally have one baby at a time every three years. The first thing a baby manatee does after it gets born it rises to the surface to breath. Last, a female manatee becomes an adult when it is five.

Manatees were used in lots of different ways. Its skin was burned as fuel. Also its bones where used as medican and jewelry. Its skin was made into shoes. Manatees fed many people.

Manatees are endangered animals. People need to protect them and not hurt them so they don’t dye out!