Projects

All the projects have been completed and presented. Everyone did a good job. The pictures below were from some of the museum projects. The students become curators of their own museums (made from shoe boxes). They had to draw 3-D floor plans, build and decorate the boxes, complete the research on the topic of their choice, collect and install their exhibit, write a story from and visitors viewpoint and then present the projects to an audience of other students and parents. Projects included sports, Greek Mythology, modern art, dinosaurs, shells/rocks, War battles and weapons, NASCAR, aviation, Pharaohs and many others. These are just a few of the pictures.

Christmas Game

If you want an addictive logic game try Sugar Sugar.  The Christmas version includes working around trees, raindeer, and upside down cups.  They also have a non-holiday version.  Explore this web site HoodaMath.com for additional logic games and math tutorials.  Have fun.!

Merry Christmas

Here is a Christmas Card Puzzle for you.  Decide how many pieces you would like to work with.  Let me know how quick you can put the 12 or 48 piece one together, or how about higher?  Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays

As our winter break fast approaches, the Challenge students are finishing up their projects.  Museums will be presented on Tuesday or Thursday, depending on the class schedule.  The elementary students will also be reading their stories.  Parents are invited to come.  You should have received a note from your child.  I also hope to video the presentations.

The 6th grade students are working from a book called "The Honest Truth about Lies" where we look at illusions vs perceptions.  This is getting them ready for the unit on debates.  The 7th graders are finishing up a unit on Norse Mythology.  The projects have been very interesting.  8th graders are working from a book "Thinking Like a Genius."  They will be studying Columbus, Copernicus, Shakespeare and others.

Vanderbilt's Summer Academy has started sending out their catalogs.  Check out pty.vanderbilt.edu for more information.

Challenge Chatter

I have finally found a website where the students can discuss topics/books/ideas safely.  Follow this link to Challenge Chatter, where you will register.  You do not have to have an e-mail address to do this.  Once registered, I will need to approve you to join in on the discussion.  I have started a topic to see when everyone is registered.  I am planning on doing book reviews and idea starters.  Hope to see you soon.

Information from Vanderbilt for Parents of Gifted children:

New Parenting Group for Parents of Highly Gifted Children

Meets Saturdays, January 28- February 18

 

This spring, PTY will offer a special group for parents of highly gifted children, those with IQ scores of approximately 140 or higher. This group will meet four consecutive Saturdays, January 28- February 18, corresponding with weeks two through five of Spring SAVY.  Any parent of a highly gifted child is welcome to participate in this group; enrollment in SAVY is not a requirement. Group topics will include asynchrony, social-emotional development, and strategies for advocating for and parenting this unique group of students. Please contact Megan Peters to learn more about this group and to register.

For Students:

Spring SAVY Accepting Applications

January 21 - February 25

 

The leaves may be falling from the trees, but registration for Spring SAVY 2012 is already well underway!  Held on Vanderbilt’s campus, Spring SAVY will run the six Saturdays of January 21 through February 25.  Courses for the spring session will include creative writing, engineering, poetry, the science of matter.  Courses are filling quickly, so apply today!  Visit the SAVY website to learn more about the courses and to print an application.

Halloween Weekend

If you are searching for some web sites to visit this weekend you might try these from History.com
Find out facts about pumpkins in this fun video  All about pumpkins
Here  is an infographic of pumpkin and candy numbers: Pumpkins by the numbers
If you need some pumpkin templates for carving, check these out:  Pumpkin Templates
Some general history on Halloween can be found on Halloween History
Some fun and games can be found on National Geographic's Halloween activities

Have a great weekend!

The weeks seem to fly by this year.  Elementary is working on their actual museums.  It is time to bring in the shoe boxes (3) and any items you need to create your museums.  Pictures will be coming soon. The secondary classes are working on areas of interest in 6th, group problem solving in 7th and our service learning project in 8th.
I will be assigning passwords for Manga High Math.  This is a web site for all the students that challenges them in the areas of math.  Be sure to get your password from me.  The site is:   http://schools.mangahigh.com/dicksonchallenge

Have fun this week and enjoy Halloween!

Hope everyone is having a great break.  Vanderbilt hosts several different programs for Talented Youth from grades 1-12.  If you are interested in a weekend or summer program, check out this website:  http://pty.vanderbilt.edu/   Several of our Dickson Challenge students are or have taken advantage of this opportunity.  They are signing up for the spring sessions now.

While your are enjoying your two weeks off - try some of these websites.  Brain Bashers at www.brainbashers.com  has games based on grades K-5.  Also check out www.roadtogrammar.com/strips/ to see how many 4 letter words you can find.  For all students and parents try freerice.com to build vocabulary.   For every correct word you give 10 grains of rice to the World Hunger Fund.  Try it out.  Have a great break.

The Challenge students from Charlotte, Vanleer and White Bluff elementary schools went on a field trip to the Halbrook Railroad Museum.  These students are studying a unit on museums.  They learned how the museum was created and the role the hotel  played in the history of Dickson.  Thanks go to Martha Gerdaman as our tour guide and Ms Wine for the pictures.

Citizen Scientists

Some site of interest
If you are interested in helping with animal/insect population studies, check this out:  http://www.projectnoah.org/
Another site you might be interested in deals with science & math games.  See if you can win a fake $1,000,000.  Try http://education.jlab.org/indexpages/elementgames.php

First Week

We had a good start to the year.  In the elementary grades we defined museums and learned about the many different kinds.  They will have Challenge on Tuesdays or Thursdays.  Our kindergartner is learning about frogs this month.  The 6th grade middle school group will have Challenge on Mondays and they are working on study habits vs learning styles.  The 7th grade also works on Mondays and is learning about metacognition and how it applies to them.  They are doing this through writing and art.  Our eight grade will decide this week if they are going to do a service project this year.
We have a new name to add to our Society of the Rose.  Congratulations to Garret Bergen.  If you are not a member of the society, check out the right side of the page.

New School Year

Welcome back to school.  Challenge classes will start the week of August 15.  I have already heard from many of you that you are eager to get started.  In the elementary program we will be working on museums, math and art and CSI programs this year.  The secondary program will continue to work on debates, psychology and philosophy.
Please be sure to follow this blog so that you can be notified by e-mail or your RSS reader when I update.  I am planning on doing that each week.
For now check out the "Pedals Around the Rose Puzzle" on the right.  If you think you know the answer, show me when we get together for class.  Remember, do not share the answer with anyone else - that is part of the fun.

Parents - my schedule covers 5 schools.  I can be reached by e-mail, scook or on Monday mornings at the DMS Annex (740-5829) and on Tuesday/Thursday at CES (740-5803).  I look forward to our adventures this year.@dcbe.org

Bridge Party

Our Bridge Party was a success!  Three of the four bridges were busted, but the fourth withstood weights and simulated  wind storms.  We have wrapped  up a great year.  Here are some pictures of the Bridge Unit.

May 9th

The Health Fair was a success.  It was held outside on the DMS football field during the Dragon Walk.  Approximately 700 students had the option to participate.  The 8th grade Challenge class did a good job planning and carrying out the Fair.  I would also like to thank Ms. Crider, the Coordinated Health Care professionals, Coach Bradford and the other adults who helped the students to put this together.  This was the class' idea and work.  Congratulations.

Welcome

Hi and welcome to the Challenge Blog.  This is a work in progress.  Just a note on what the classes are doing this week.  First and Second graders are studying insects and working on critical thinking.  Grades 3 - 5 are building bridges out of toothpicks which they designed.  Sixth grade is debating current issues, while the 7th is researching a mystery illness.  The 8th grade is busy with a Health Fair taking place during the Dragon Walk Friday, May 6th.  Pictures will follow.