Welcome to Discovery

Woodmere Middle School Discovery Program

Susan Suriano

Middle School Talented & Gifted Students

Advanced academic abilities Curious and inquisitive Self motivated learner Risk taker Intuitive Excels at analysis Superior problem solver Superior use of language Enjoys complexity Creative thinker Leadership skills

~ Early adolescence is a time period of rapid physical, intellectual, social, and emotional growth ~

Program Goals

Provide opportunities for students to maximize their learning potential Bring gifted students together in a homogeneous group Promote higher level thinking skills Encourage critical thinking and creative problem solving Interdisciplinary curriculum Coordinate and extend the regular classroom curriculum Hands-on discovery

Creative Behaviors

Seeing things in new ways Making connections Challenging assumptions Taking risks Using opportunities

"Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different." ~~ Albert Szent-Gyorgyi (1893 - 1986)

Schedule

At Woodmere Middle School the Discovery Program has two components: ~ A semester Discovery class is scheduled into the student’s day in 6 th and 7 th grade.

~ A lunchtime Discovery lab class is also available to all middle school Discovery students throughout the year.

Discovery Lab

~ Students will be involved in interdisciplinary interest group activities.

~ Curriculum is developed with the students and is based on their interests.

Science Experiments Mock Trial DNA Workshop Independent Research Math Enrichment Detective Mysteries Book Circles Creative Writing Chess Tournament Rollercoaster physics Challenge Activities Egg drop contest Pen Pals

Grade 6 Curriculum

Logic Problems and Lateral Thinking Challenge Activities Math Problem Solving Ecology Public Service Announcements Japanese Cultural Study Research and Presentation 発見

Grade 7 Curriculum

Logic Problems and Lateral Thinking Challenge Activities Math Problem Solving Debates American History Research Historical Fiction Writing Multimedia Presentations