GRADES 6-8
Welcome to middle school WINGS.
Access the Rock Climbing Liability Waiver:
http://www.bigrockclimbinggym.com/docs/Big_Rock_Liability_Waiver.pdf
Spring Newsletter
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL WINGS STUDENT . . .
The instructional day at WINGS is divided into three sections. These sections are Thinking Skills, Personal and Group Dynamics, and Major Unit.
In Thinking Skills, students have four objectives: to develop critical thinking skills, to develop creative thinking skills, to develop analytic skills, and to develop organizational skills. Research skills play a major role the our thinking skills curriculum. "The secret to effective research with new electronic information sources is the use of powerful questioning strategies. In fact, questions may be one of the most powerful technologies invented by humans. Even though they require no batteries and need not be plugged into the wall, they are the tools which help us make up our minds, solve problems and make decisions."
In Personal and Group Dynamics, students work to understand themselves and how they relate to others. The Personal and Group Dynamics class is a very important part of the WINGS day. This time, specifically allotted to affective education, is part of a comprehensive curriculum designed to meet the needs of gifted children. Linda Silverman, author of Counseling the Gifted and Talented, and Nicholas Colangelo, a contributing editor, define goals and objectives that provide the framework for the WINGS affective curriculum for gifted students.
Major Units, the third portion of the day, are of great interest to the students. Unlike the first two classes, Major units change over the course of the school year based on student interest. Each unit is written by the WINGS staff and includes the following components:
- the BIG IDEA, or issue, associated with the topic,
- the three or four skills/concepts the student is expected to master,
- the skills from the program goals and studentexpectations covered in the unit with special emphasis on critical thinking,
- a calendar of topics, activities, and events scheduled for the unit,
- a listing of student expectations or outcomes, and
- a letter to parents.
SPRING 2010 MAJOR UNITS
Genetics: Got DNA?
Resource Teacher: Denise Vinton
Students will learn about the major processes through which genetic information is passed on, with emphasis on the relationship between structure and function. They will explore the path through which our knowledge evolved, from Gregor Mendel to the Human Genome Project, and will learn about the technical and ethical challenges associated with current knowledge and research. Topics include Mendelian inheritance patterns, the chromosomal and molecular basis of genetics, gene expression, protein structure and function, DNA technologies, practical applications of technology, and ethical questions. Instructional strategies will include hands-on activities, laboratory experiments, video presentations, independent research, interaction with experts in the field, web-based simulations, and classroom discussions. Course objectives support state and national educational standards for science and technology. CLASS SYLLABUS
School of Rock
Resource Teacher: Betsy Cannella
Calling all musicians and graphic designers! WINGS Middle School is looking for bands ready to record their own music and designers looking to try their hand at album cover art. In this unit, we will gain exposure and appreciation for the many different music genres and explore the process that guides music composition. Aided by Garageband and the application of musical theory, each “band” will compose original compositions. Along with the music, we will study the graphics that are used to package and advertise the music we love. We will learn and apply different techniques of graphic design (both by hand and with the help of Photoshop) and elements of advertising as we create an album cover and band poster. Finally we will direct and produce our own music video using iMovie.
“Raise your goblet of rock. It’s a toast to those who rock!”
Me: Transforming and Transformed through Artists’ Eyes
Resource Teacher: Catherine Gilpin
This class will mix up photography, art history, and writing to create a personal journal of you; who you are, where you are, and how you can show your different moods and expressions through the filters of the masters. You will study photography, some of the great artists and art movements, and create your own pieces in the style of the different masters – making your own personal art statements in pictures and words – and ending up with a journal of this part of your journey. There will be lots of walking field trips, so be prepared to walk A LOT!
For Love of the Written Word: A Celebration of Writing and Literature
Resource Teacher: Melissa Sharpsteen
Lovers of the written word-unite! Love to get lost in literature? Happiest when alone with nothing but your own thoughts and a pen? This is the unit for you! This course will seek to explain how writing reflects and shapes human experience and existence. We will celebrate writing-the writing of the world’s greatest authors, the writing of our own personal favorites, as well as the great author within you. We’ll read, we’ll write, we’ll talk-we’ll all get preoccupied with prose and poetry together!
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