Local News
Gifted students make big plans for summer
MOULTRIE — School during summer vacation? This actually sounds like fun.
For the first year, the Colquitt County Gifted Program is offering a summer enrichment program for gifted and talented students in rising third through eighth grades.
“We wanted to start out small with high quality. Our goal is to have it on the level of the Governor’s Honors Program. As we realize success, I feel like it would be something we have every year,” said Geni Akridge, director of the gifted program.
Students will have the chance to broaden their horizons and apply academic skills in engaging courses taught by experts.
The courses are free, and transportation and lunch will be provided. Support for the program is coming primarily from the Board of Education and partly from funds through special education.
“I think we’ve got a pretty progressive board who are looking for ways to offer those things we can’t do during the school year now. There’s so much focus on academic standards,” Akridge said.
One course involves the design and building of authentic musical instruments taught by master craftsman, musician and designer Bond Anderson, who has conducted workshops for the Smithsonian Institution. His work is featured in the February issue of Southern Living magazine, the gifted program’s Web site said.
“He’s traveled all over the world doing this. I thinks it’s exceptional that we’re getting him to come,” Akridge said.
The special education department will be able to benefit later, integrating materials used in this course in therapy, she added.
Two course instructors are from the University of Georgia’s Georgia Internships for Teachers (GIFT) program. The UGA Tifton Campus partners with Georgia Tech University to offer teachers the opportunity to work side-by-side with scientists, developing their own scientific research and forming partnerships for continued contact throughout the school year, said a UGA Web site.
“It is amazing to know what they’re doing right in our back yard in Tifton,” Akridge said.
One of their scientists will come work with a local teacher in a biotechnology course that will explore DNA using hands-on activities and laboratory experiments. Students will learn about the mysteries of DNA as they participate in a “whodunit” crime scene investigation.
A certified GIFT teacher hired by UGA will conduct an ecology course in which students will learn about environmental resources and changes in their natural world. In the process they will create their own “rot” chamber, solar still, land fill and oil spill. They will explore the “energy” in moving toys, wind and water. In this course, they also will investigate acid rain, sound, recycling, light, pollutants, heat, the human body, earth processes, chemical energy and electricity.
Art courses will be offered in fired clay sculpture and two-dimensional drawing, design and painting. There are technology courses. One is creating a short animated film. Another is webpage design. There is an introduction to journalism, in which the student will produce a final product using his choice of media. To integrate mathematics, there is also a carpentry course and an “Iron Chef” course.
Class size is limited, so placement will be first come, first served, Akridge said.
For more information, visit www.k12.ga.us/gifted and choose Summer Opportunities or contact the Gifted Center at 890-6185.
