The perception of time, relative to one’s age, was recently examined by 7^th grade Idea students. Following class discussions and readings, they were  challenged to consider differing perspectives and create riddles describing  the “life cycle” of an inanimate objects. More riddles in Sparks.

Can you identify the objects?

I am created suddenly and grow, swelling rapidly

My rotund figure glistens and sparkles when I catch the light.

I can be big or small, colorful or dull.

My life is a voyage with no destination, just a beginning.

I voyage leisurely up, floating serenely.

My life ends with an onomatopoeia, and I vanish.  What am I?

K.H.

Answer: A soap bubble

Fourth grade Idea students wrote persuasive speeches as a culminating activity in the Forum Unit.

Amanda

Johnathan

See some of our new creations in Sparks!

Achiever’s Night- Wednesday, May 20th- DHS- Auditorium
Please join us as 9th grade Idea students present their independent projects.  Projects range from the creation of a laser harp to the building of a hovercraft.

Stepping Stones Children’s Museum
Invention Convention- March-June
Think Big-Come invent and create in a place designed to spark imaginations. Exploration stations, invention capes and recycled materials set the stage for young inventors.

WORLD SCIENCE FESTIVAL June 10-14, 2009
From climate change to the cosmos; from neuroscience to nanotechnology; from mathematical magic to the multiverse–this year’s Festival will feature some of the world’s leading scientific minds, celebrated artists and innovative thinkers including:
Nobel Prize-winning scientists James Watson, Harold Varmus, David Gross, Frank Wilczek, Sir Paul Nurse and William Phillips; renowned authors Bill McKibben and Irene Pepperberg; esteemed researchers E.O. Wilson, James Hansen, Daniel Wegner, Erich Jarvis, Daniel Levitin and Margaret Livingstone; and acclaimed artists Alan Alda, Marin Alsop and Anna Deavere Smith.
For Information-Complete information about the 2009 Festival’s programming and special guests will be announced later this spring. Tickets will go on sale in late April.  Please keep visiting  http://www.worldsciencefestival.com/ for new announcements about programs, participants, and tickets.

 
SENG, Supporting the Needs of Gifted is a national organization. Along with conducting research related to the gifted, SENG also produces a free newsletter, provides speakers, as well as workshops focusing on the social and emotional development of the gifted.   The SENG Honor Roll provides a special opportunity to give credit to educators of all levels who demonstrate commitment to helping a gifted child or young adult. These special people are pivotal in the lives of gifted individuals.
 
This past summer Cara Martin,was one of only two teachers in Connecticut to be selected as a SENG Honor Roll teacher. Below is the parent testimonial which led to Cara’s award.
 
“Cara Martin has taught my two older girls – my oldest daughter for 2 years, and now my 3rd grader this past year in the Darien school system’s gifted program, and she is just great!!! She is constantly coming up with new ways to motivate the children, and always is fun and they love her. She is very inspirational and dedicated.  Cara is always learning new things about the gifted and she is up on new studies and new methods of identifying and working with gifted children. She is fun and the kids love her. My third grader looks forward to Mondays – ONLY because she has ‘IDEA’ – Darien’s gifted class with Cara Martin. If it were not for Cara, and the gifted program, I think I would have to think seriously about putting my kids in private school – even though Darien is lucky to have a great school system. What she does in 1 1/2 hours a week make a huge difference in my daughters life (and did for 2 years of my older daughter’s life as well). She challenges them, nurtures them, and helps them take on challenging projects step by step. She is kind and encouraging and has a huge smile. She treats them like the intellects they are, and she knows each kid so well it is incredible. She is the perfect example of what a teacher can and should be for all kids.

Teaching gifted kids requires additional insight and perhaps patience, both of which she has. Some of these kids are so smart that they are frequently faced with adults (other teachers too) who are bothered/scared by their questions, or their quick answers. Cara is not afraid to say she does not know – or to let the kids know that even she got one answer wrong on a vocabulary  test. So they respect her – know she is honest (they can usually tell!) and feel comforted by her example that they are not expected to be perfect all the time! (This is a huge issue especially with my girls for whom perfection – or striving for it -  is definitely an issue). She is not afraid to engage them in working ‘with’ her to solve a problem, which is a great way for bright kids to work and learn!”