Discovering
hAWAi’i
Dear Parents, Teachers, and PEAKers,
It was great to have all the students back after the winter break. They were excited to start
again! We began by finishing the last piece of business in our Mad Science unit, which was analyzing the
rubrics from the final event. Students used Excel to enter their data and then averaged their creativity,
research, and presentation scores. It was an opportunity to see where they did very and where there is room
for improvement. Students also learned about the early Polynesian explorers, the people who explored and
settled most, if not all, of the islands in the Pacific, including the most isolated islands in the world – Hawaii.
In the afternoon, we spent a great deal of time looking at an interest topic list. This is a very complete
and broad look at topic possibilities for the independent study unit. After brainstorming possible ideas,
sharing those ideas, and much discussion, students narrowed their list down to a select few they thought
would be interesting. Homework this week is to think about their selections, discuss topic ideas with parents,
and come to PEAK next week with a single topic idea. This topic will become the independent study students
will use to explore, research, and create!
This week we will be taking the next step in our expedition. With broad topics selected, students will
spend time webbing ideas. Webbing is a creativity activity that narrows the focus and breaks down their topic
into smaller and more manageable aspects. For example, History can be split into World, Ancient, North
American, etc.; Ancient History can then be separated into subtopics like Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Polynesian,
etc; Polynesian History could be narrowed to topics like language, music, lifestyle, exploration, etc. It is
during the webbing process that students will eventually end up with a functional and researchable
independent study topic; something they can use to gather resources and start their research.
Students will also be learning about the internet and using it successfully for research purposes. They
will also get creative as they design a sailboat or canoe they will then use to track their progress on our
classroom map. It should be a busy and fun week!
This Week’s AcTiviTies: (JAnuAry 10th – January 14th)
Creativity
Webbing Student will begin to narrow their topic idea down into a more specific and
functional aspect, using a technique called webbing.
Research
What do I want to explore? Students will start the research process for their focused
topic by learning how to do detailed internet research.
Creativity/Intrapers. A Sled of my own! Students will draw/sketch/create a personalized canoe that will be
put up on our big expedition map in the classroom. This map will allow students to
gauge their progress in the independent study process.
into the unknown,
Mr. Currier
PEAK Calendar 2017
9
10
11
12
Bryant
Hawthorne
Rossiter
4 Georgians
Jefferson
Broadwater
Smith
Central
Kessler
Jim Darcy
Warren
16
17
18
19
20
4 Georgians
Jefferson
Bryant
Hawthorne
Rossiter
Broadwater
Smith
Central
Kessler
Jim Darcy
Warren
Noon Early
Release –
No PEAK
End of
Semester –
No School
MLK Day –
No School
13
Research trip to Lewis and
Clark Library – bring
Library card
23
Bryant
Hawthorne
Rossiter
24
4 Georgians
Jefferson
25
Broadwater
Smith
Central
Kessler
26
Jim Darcy
Warren
27
30
Bryant
Hawthorne
Rossiter
31
4 Georgians
Jefferson
Feb
1
Broadwater
Smith
Central
Kessler
2
Jim Darcy
Warren
3
6
Bryant
Hawthorne
Rossiter
7
4 Georgians
Jefferson
9
Jim Darcy
Warren
10
13
Bryant
Hawthorne
Rossiter
14
4 Georgians
Jefferson
16
Jim Darcy
Warren
17
20
21
4 Georgians
Jefferson
Bryant
Hawthorne
Rossiter
8
Broadwater
Smith
Central
Kessler
15
Broadwater
Smith
Central
Kessler
22
Broadwater
Smith
Central
Kessler
23
Jim Darcy
Warren
24
President’s
Day –
No School