This is the ALPS Information space. You will find news and information about the Phoenix District #1 Gifted and Talented program detailing everyday activities and special occasions.
August 14, 2008
August 12, 2008
Summer School
The Space Camp Summer Program for Monterey Park was held from June 9- June 26. We had a total of 33 students sign up with 27 students actually attending. Magnet Traditional students joined us the second week of class. Excellent attendance, only 2 absences.
Students had classes in the history of space and rocket experiments, art, writing, music, and a weather related rescue simulation with the Space Center in Peoria, Az.
Ms. Valdez taught the history of space exploration from its beginnings using magazines, books and videos. Students constructed a timeline from the 1950s through the 2000s of important space events of each decade. Students also studied the effects of space on the human body and constructed a bulletin board with said info. Students build simple rockets using available materials demonstrating the importance of controlled systems such as fins to stabilize rockets in flight. Students also build a pinwheel rocket to demonstrate Newton’s Third Law of Motion using air escaping from a balloon as the action force. As a culminating activity, students played Space Jingo using vocabulary that was introduced, and facts from the history of space exploration.
Mrs. Cook class began with students making space mission patches inspired from actual NASA missions. Students wrote an analysis of the components of their patch. From a discussion on extraterrestrial life using movies, books and music as a stimulus, students created a 3-dimentional mask, and used said mask as an inspiration for a short story. Final activity was based on a NASA educator’s project. Working in a two-man team, students developed a CEV (Crew Exploration Vehicle) to transport human crews to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Students designed a diagram using the eight components required. Recycled materials were used for construction.
Mrs. Iniguez’s class practiced for a rescue simulation on the island of Montserrat (in the Caribbean) in conjunction with the Space Challenger Center in Peoria, Az. Using a web camera, the students and Space Commander were able to see each other in action.
Students were in four teams: Communication Team: they were the force of the operation, receiving and passing out data to all the teams, and in turn, receiving the interpreted data back from the teams to the Space Commander; Evacuation Team: they were responsible for the moving of people from one area to another. They also had to interact with the volcano team and hurricane team to check for the data coming in to be able to move people from one place to another; Volcano & Hurricane Team: they had to analyze and interpret the data coming in from Control Center to check the activity of both volcano and hurricane action, and calculate and graph to check how much activity the volcano was going through, and how close it was to erupting, and also how close the hurricane was to striking the island.
NASA, supposedly, was in the process of launching a shuttle crew in an attempt to repair a damaged satellite. Once this satellite was repaired, it would gather critical information regarding the volcano and hurricane that was hitting the island. Information was provided in real time data format with students analyzing and interpreting the data. Students had to relay the information in an appropriate manner using military time, and correct language such as “Copy that” “Roger”, We read you”, Standing by”, etc.
Students played the role as members of an Emergency Response Team.
Linda Cooper and Beth Peterson were instrumental in setting up the technology needed for this project. Linda made sure everything was put in action, and Beth worked with the Space Commander in setting up all the necessary equipment needed. She made sure that this simulation went smoothly. Thank you so much, Linda and Beth!! I could not have done it without you.
Students had classes in the history of space and rocket experiments, art, writing, music, and a weather related rescue simulation with the Space Center in Peoria, Az.
Ms. Valdez taught the history of space exploration from its beginnings using magazines, books and videos. Students constructed a timeline from the 1950s through the 2000s of important space events of each decade. Students also studied the effects of space on the human body and constructed a bulletin board with said info. Students build simple rockets using available materials demonstrating the importance of controlled systems such as fins to stabilize rockets in flight. Students also build a pinwheel rocket to demonstrate Newton’s Third Law of Motion using air escaping from a balloon as the action force. As a culminating activity, students played Space Jingo using vocabulary that was introduced, and facts from the history of space exploration.
Mrs. Cook class began with students making space mission patches inspired from actual NASA missions. Students wrote an analysis of the components of their patch. From a discussion on extraterrestrial life using movies, books and music as a stimulus, students created a 3-dimentional mask, and used said mask as an inspiration for a short story. Final activity was based on a NASA educator’s project. Working in a two-man team, students developed a CEV (Crew Exploration Vehicle) to transport human crews to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Students designed a diagram using the eight components required. Recycled materials were used for construction.
Mrs. Iniguez’s class practiced for a rescue simulation on the island of Montserrat (in the Caribbean) in conjunction with the Space Challenger Center in Peoria, Az. Using a web camera, the students and Space Commander were able to see each other in action.
Students were in four teams: Communication Team: they were the force of the operation, receiving and passing out data to all the teams, and in turn, receiving the interpreted data back from the teams to the Space Commander; Evacuation Team: they were responsible for the moving of people from one area to another. They also had to interact with the volcano team and hurricane team to check for the data coming in to be able to move people from one place to another; Volcano & Hurricane Team: they had to analyze and interpret the data coming in from Control Center to check the activity of both volcano and hurricane action, and calculate and graph to check how much activity the volcano was going through, and how close it was to erupting, and also how close the hurricane was to striking the island.
NASA, supposedly, was in the process of launching a shuttle crew in an attempt to repair a damaged satellite. Once this satellite was repaired, it would gather critical information regarding the volcano and hurricane that was hitting the island. Information was provided in real time data format with students analyzing and interpreting the data. Students had to relay the information in an appropriate manner using military time, and correct language such as “Copy that” “Roger”, We read you”, Standing by”, etc.
Students played the role as members of an Emergency Response Team.
Linda Cooper and Beth Peterson were instrumental in setting up the technology needed for this project. Linda made sure everything was put in action, and Beth worked with the Space Commander in setting up all the necessary equipment needed. She made sure that this simulation went smoothly. Thank you so much, Linda and Beth!! I could not have done it without you.
April 17, 2008
Taylor Hosts Ask-a-Biologist
Taylor, an ALPS student from Dunbar, co-hosted the Ask a Biologist podcast at ASU. She interviewed a scientist about "Wickedly Cool Plants." Well done, Taylor!
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March 26, 2008
About ALPS
Accelerated Learning Procedures (ALPS) was among the first programs for students identified as gifted in the Phoenix metro area. The concept of bringing high ability students from around the district, for enrichment, was a novelty in 1974. Instruction has been by thematic unit and roughly 180 K-8 students have been served on a regular basis. Community-building is stressed as students in ALPS come from all 14 PESD schools.
There has been a significant push for testing PESD students since August 2006. The number of gifted students identified has doubled to 360.
In 2007-2008, the curriculum being studied includes science experimentation, verbal and math challenges using synthesis, analysis and evaluation, nutrition and exercise (yoga), computer keyboarding fluency, presentation preparation and practice, chess, U.S. history, and math strategies through games and LEGO NXT Robotics.
To enhance the learning experience, students in K-2 viewed several theatrical productions during the year at both Childsplay and Phoenix Theatre’s Cookie Company. The students in grades 3-4 will conclude the year with “Time Travelers” and “Life on the Edge” participatory presentations at Arizona’s Grand Canyon. Fifth and sixth graders will be operating Junior Achievement’s Biz Town. They will be entrepreneurs-for-a-day, running businesses in a simulated city. Seventh and eighth grade students will complete their ALPS experience with a trip to Northern Arizona highlighting Meteor Crater, the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelley, the East Rim of the Grand Canyon, Wupatki and the Museum of Northern Arizona.
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