Gifted and Talented Newsletter
Bastrop ISD April 2023
April Dates
April 7&10 - Student Holiday
April 12 - GT Parent Book Study A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children Chapter 8: Acquaintances, Friends and Peers and Chapter 11 Complexities of Successful Parenting 6:00-7:00pm @ Service Center
April 14 - End of Fifth Six Weeks at Intermediate Schools
April 25-27 - STAAR Reading (specific testing dates to be shared by campus)
Mark Your Calendar for our Spring GT Campus Showcase
May 4 - Emile Elementary 5:30-6:30 Library
May 4 - Red Rock Elementary 5:00-6:00 Cafeteria
May 11 - Lost PInes Elementary 7:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m Portable 7
May 15 - Bastrop Intermediate 5:30-6:30 Room 303
May 18 - Bluebonnet Elementary 5:30 - 6:30 Location TBD
May 18 - Cedar Creek Elementary 5:30-6:30 Cafeteria
May 23 - Mina Elementary 3:00-5:00 West Gym
Our Schools Share Their Learning
Bluebonnet Elementary
Kindergarten - Do Your Part for Art
Kinder students learned that sometimes artists’ paintings reflect the mood of the painter. The students practiced creating mood in this activity.
First Grade - Ancient Egypt
Second Grade - Hey. Little Ant
Third Grade - Wildlife Protection
We were fortunate enough to have two Master Gardeners visit with our third graders to explain the importance of bees.
Fourth Grade - Pursuit of Passion
Cedar Creek Elementary
Kinder - 4th students were able to participate in various activities for our campus Career Day - they learned how to fill a cavity and “graduated” from Dental University, how a bank operates and what it takes to become a firefighter and police officer.
1st - 4th students utilized the design process to plan and build a tower to protect the leprechauns gold - the most pennies held were 107 by a 4th grade group! Kinder students used toothpicks and marshmallows to build a house for the leprechaun to hide in.
Students also started the first stage of their Spring projects - (Kinder) creating a self-portrait, (3rd) researching endangered animals, (2nd) learning about Ancient China and (1st) Ancient Egypt culture, and (4th) exploring their passion to teach themselves how to do something.
Emile Elementary
Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Lost Pines Elementary
Kindergarten - Set Recognition
First Grade - Animal Adaptations Study Break
Taking a break from their study of Animal Adaptations, students adapted to taking turns with games so friends could each play the game they most wanted to play during Friendly Friday's Genius Hour.
Second Grade- Diorama Fun!
Third Grade - Studies Causes and Remedies for Endangered Bees
Fourth Grade - Recycle Team!
Mina Elementary
Kindergarten - Do Your Part for Art
We kicked off this project with creating a self-portrait. A self-portrait is a picture of you. Fun was had by all while creating the portraits. Students listened to the story, Fancy Nancy Aspiring Artist. We learned about what artists do and use while creating their artwork. The first artist we learned about was a French artist, Henri Matisse. He was best known for drawing
with scissors. We cannot wait to show you our drawing with scissors artwork! We will continue to study other artists, their artwork, and create our own art based on the artist’s style.
First Grade - Ancient Egypt
Let's make paper! Why? We began the Ancient Egypt project by using similar steps to make paper like the ancient Egyptians did. Rather than using the papyrus plant like the ancient Egyptians, we used brown paper bags and a mixture of glue and water. Our end product, paper! The first civilizations set up along the Nile River. The river helped grow their crops in order for them to have food. We learned about the everyday people of ancient Egypt and had fun playing, Senat, a board game played in the time of the ancient Egyptians.
Second Grade - Ancient China
What is this? Turn it into a picture. There were dragons, unicorns, chickens, and even a cowboy riding a bull! Who knew that the outline of the country of China could turn into so many things. This began our project for the semester learning about Ancient China. We have learned that the first civilizations set up along two major rivers in China. These rivers helped grow their crops in order for them to have food. We learned
about families of ancient China along with how they honored their ancestors, and the teachings of Confucius. Up next, The Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Army.
Third Grade - Wildlife Protection Program
Will we miss them? Can we save them? Yes, we will miss animals that are endangered, and yes, we can save animals that are endangered. Animals are endangered all over the world for various reasons. We have learned that the first step is to educate ourselves about these animals then share our knowledge with others to bring awareness. The next step is to
research to learn more about specific endangered species in our world.
Fourth Grade - Pursuit of Passion
How do we get to yet? After listening to the story, The Power of Yet, we learned that it is ok if we have not gotten to yet. To get to yet, it takes time, patience, determination, practice, and grit. There will be highs and lows getting to yet as well as many emotions. When you get to yet, it will be amazing! The story, The Power of Yet, led us to the project for the
semester. If you can learn how to do anything, what would you choose? Genius Hour is choosing your own topic based on what you like and/or what you want to learn. You ask the questions, research the topic, and in the end create something to share with the world! Genius Hour is the opportunity to explore, learn, and make something awesome!
Kindergarten
Kindergarten GT students at RRE are currently “Doing their Part for Art!” Students are currently learning about different artists throughout our history who made an impact on the world from
their unique art techniques and styles. This project generates a deeper understanding of art, and the students will gain a basic knowledge of artistic styles. We recently finished our section
over Jackson Pollock and his drip/splatter painting technique.
First Grade
1st Grade GT Students at RRE have been invested in learning about Ancient Egyptian history and their culture. Touching on several different topics throughout this unit, students are sure to become experts on all aspects of Ancient Egypt. We have been collectively researching and participating in interactive assignments that familiarize students with some of the vocabulary associated with Ancient Egypt. They will soon be creating their own mummies and pyramids to display at our RRE Showcase!
Second Grade
2nd Grade GT Students at RRE are currently investigating and researching the life of Ants! Students have been working hard to learn about all the different types of ants, their roles and
jobs in their colonies, and all the complex details that go into building their ant mounds. We recently went outside and observed the ants to analyze how they act in their natural habitats. Through more research and interactive activities, like the “Ant Life Cycle” activity we recently completed, students will learn an exceptional amount of facts and information about Ants’ lives. Students are soon to begin working on creating their own model/diagram of an Ant mound that
displays the complex designs and pathways of Ants habitats.
Third Grade
3rd Grade GT Students at RRE have been trying their best to save the Endangered Animals. Students were allowed to freely choose an animal species of their desire that is considered an Endangered Species. Together, we discussed topics such as conservation status and the different levels of endangerment, possible reasons and threats that made their animals become endangered, and what innovative protection plans could be implemented to save their species! Individually, students will continue to do research utilizing both books and technology to gather
and organize information that they can display on their finished products. On their finished products, they will be providing their detailed explanation of a possible “Protection Plan” to help save their endangered species, while persuading their audience to donate to the WWF charity.
Fourth Grade
4th Grade GT Students at RRE are pursuing their passions and interests by participating in our “Passion Project.” This year, our 4th Grade GT students were given complete freedom to choose their own topic for a research project as long as it is something they are passionate about or interests them. We have been learning how to find and utilize reliable online resources,
brainstorm and plan our ideas for finished products, while also doing independent research that we have organized by using maps and diagrams. Students will begin working on their finished products after they have gathered enough valuable information, where we will collaborate and create the best finished product to teach the audience about their Passion for our Showcase!
Cedar Creek Intermediate School
Students at CCIS have been learning about how developing a new colony requires more than just building a house and setting up the internet! We have learned about Abraham Maslow and his hierarchy of needs. We are now using what we learned about needs to develop a sustainable colony on Mars. We explored NASA's MOXIE concept, the process of creating oxygen on Mars; and compared it to the concept of terraforming. We also learned about Alyssa Carson, who is on track to be the first person to live on Mars! Alyssa is already a space certified astronaut at 20 years old! She was chosen to be a part of this project when she was only 13!! Oh! And Did I mention ROBOTICS?!! Each group has been challenged to make an element of their colony from lego robotics!
Please plan to join us on April 19th for our Night Among the STAARS Showcase. Our projects will be on display along with other fun activities! As a special treat, we will be hosting Stars and Science Austin and their Planetarium Sky Tours! More information to come.
Bastrop Intermediate School
5th Grade Surviving to Thriving on Mars
Students finished crafting their presentations for their unique ideas to satisfy a need based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs for the colonization of Mars.
6th grade Terrestrial Real Estate
Students finished this unit which required them to research celestial bodies and produce and advertisement selling the location as a listing.
5th/6th group
Afer completing the Dinasaurs to Drones unit, students have self-selected focus units to study. The units that were selected were: 1. National Parks 2. Space Story, and Structure 3. Independent Study.
BES Student Earns Top Honors in Sticker Design Contest, Featured on KXAN
KXAN News interviewed Bluebonnet Elementary School second grader Kyla Coleman, who recently took the top honors in the Bastrop County Elections' "Future Voter" sticker design contest.
Congratulations Kyla on this wonderful accomplishment, and let's give a huge round of applause for all our students who participated in this fun initiative!
About Us
Email: cpinkston@bisdtx.org
Website: https://www.bisdtx.org/GT
Location: 906 Farm Street, Bastrop, TX, USA
Phone: 512-772-7100