CLEARSPRING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Center for the Highly Gifted
Program Overview
Jim Hogue, Monica Obstgarten & Elaine Marrama
Stephanie Wilhelm, Emily Bizzell, Robin Weber
March 22, 2016
Center for the Highly Gifted
Program Rationale
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Provide learning experiences grounded in
gifted research.
Provide an instructional atmosphere that
promotes a strong work ethic, critical and
creative thinking skills, risk taking, and
creative expression to help highly able
students realize their potential.
Provide instructional opportunities with
greater complexity of advanced concepts.
Center for the Highly
Gifted Program Goals
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Provide curriculum extensions to the established
grade level standards.
Project extensions incorporate best instructional
practices for gifted learners.
Content and instructional resources selected based
on academic performance for students performing
above grade level.
Engage in interdisciplinary quarterly projects/units
Center for the Highly Gifted
Program Goals (continued)
Students who are successful in this program:
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Have a strong work-ethic, use their time wisely,
and are responsible with meeting deadlines.
Consider multiple perspectives and apply critical and
creative reasoning skills to learning opportunities
Demonstrate curiosity and intrinsic motivation to learn
Work well both collaboratively and independently
May lack an academic peer group in their home school
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?
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A challenging curriculum
In-school and at-home projects
Problem solving and creativity
Acceleration
Enrichment
Technology
Collaboration
Extracurricular activities
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU EXPECT?
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A period of adjustment
A long bus ride
Heavier workload and more challenging
homework and classwork
Friendship building activities
Expectation to meet short and long-term
deadlines
CHALLENGING CURRICULUM
Reading/Language Arts
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William and Mary
Junior Great Books
Greek Mythology
William Shakespeare
Thematic core books
Integrated units
Debates/drama
THEMATIC UNITS
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Astronomy
Native Americans
Ecology/Adaptations/Life Science
Electricity/Magnetism
Physics
Rocks and Minerals
Migration
Colonization/Westward Expansion
Survival
Conflict and Change
Patterns and Change
Chemistry
Economics
American Revolution
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
 Interest driven
 Problem-based
 Acquisition of research skills
 Authentic projects
 Cooperative opportunities to work with peers
 Express responsibility through completing work
independently and meeting deadlines
RESEARCH PROJECTS
TECHNOLOGY
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Integration of skills throughout the curriculum
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Chrome Books
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Opportunities to present projects using
technology
Mathematics
For 2016-2017 CPHG will offer:
Grade 4
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Curriculum 2.0 Grade 4 Math
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Curriculum 2.0 Grade 4/5 Compacted Math
Grade 5
 Curriculum 2.0 Grade 5 Math
 Curriculum 2.0 Grade 5/6 Compacted Math
CPHG staff will review home school recommendations and make
final course determinations for each student.
Mathematics
ENRICHMENT: Field Trips
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National Art Gallery
Gunston Hall
Strathmore Center
Annapolis
Mount Vernon
Museum of Natural History
National Air and Space Museum
Olney Theater
Maryland Science Center
Newseum
Baltimore Aquarium
Museum of the American Indian
FIELD TRIPS
National Gallery of Art
Gunston Hall
Newseum
ENRICHMENT: Community Resources
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Parent experts
Scientists
Architects
Business leaders
Writers
Professional story teller
Artists in Residence
STEM Fair
Playwright
Banking specialist
Small business owners
ENRICHMENT: Community Resources
WORLD WAR II
ARCHITECT
World War II Architect
Electrical Engineering Day
Lunar Eclipse Chaser
Guest Readers
ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES:
Artist-in-Residence
Morning Stretch
Leaf Printing
Morning Sketch
Scientific
Illustrations
Extracurricular Activities
Band/Strings
Big Learning
Chess Club
FLES
Girls on the Run
Hands On Science
Mentor Club
Patrols
Piano
School of Rock
SGA
STEM Fair
Young Rembrandts
GET READY!
 Positive mindset
 Mastery-oriented
 Emphasize effort
over
intelligence
 Focus on strategies
 High expectations and standards
 Motivated to learn and produce
quality work in a timely manner
CLEARSPRING ELEMENTARY
CENTER FOR THE HIGHLY GIFTED
We look forward to watching you grow!