Gifted and Talented Newsletter
Bastrop ISD March 2023
March Dates
February 28- March 2 - Math Mock Testing
March 10 - End of Third Nine Weeks at Elementary Campuses
March 13- 17 - Spring Break
2023 "Future Voter" Sticker Winner
Congratulations to Autumn Bunker (CCI) for placing in the top 10.
Our Schools Share Their Learning
Bluebonnet Elementary
First Grade
After reading the book, Rosie Revere Engineer, by Andrea Beaty, students were challenged to help Rosie build a flying machine. The little engineers worked together to come up with ideas to help Rosie, and then put those ideas into action!
Second Grade
Students have been learning more about how important it is to get the program for robotics right so that their little robot, Milo, could travel to, stop and back away from a “dangerous” plant.
Third Grade
Third graders were challenged to create a new bow with arrows for cupid. Then they tried to improve on their bows and arrows to see whose arrows could fly the farthest.
Fourth Grade
Students were able to build a simple bow and assemble arrows. They learned how to make changes to their bows and arrows, so that their arrows would travel farther with each change. Some of the arrows went all the way across the room!
Cedar Creek Elementary
First Grade - Crayon Making
Second Grade - I Wanna
Third Grade - Inventor's Secret
Fourth Grade - Mesmerized
After hearing the true story of how Ben Franklin challenged Franz Mesmer's "magic force" in the book, Mesmerized, students took part in and conducted their own blind taste test. They learned that advertisers try to "mesmerize" us with ads, but evidence is needed to support their claim. Afterwards, each group created their own advertisement or commercial.
Emile Elementary
First Grade
Three Pigs stem activity. After reading David Wiesner's THE THREE PIGS, students made a POP-up story extension which saves the life of one of the three pigs. The students built three different houses and tested to learn if the wolf could actually blows down their house.
Second Grade
We learned what common nouns are, using animals as examples. Students were able to pick their favorite animal group and research different facts about them.
Third Grade - Robots are Everywhere
Third graders built robots out of recycled objects. They included a summary of what their robot’s job was and how it worked better than a human. They also drew advertisements for their robots.
Fourth Grade - Recycling unit
After researching the importance of recycling, students asked if they could pick up papers around the outside of the school They used their creativity to create a new item using different recycled items.
Lost Pines Elementary
First Grade - 3D Hearts Challenge
Second Grade - Forces and Motion Domino Chain in Progress
Third Grade - Balloon Car Success
Fourth Grade - 3D Heart Tower Building Challenge
Mina Elementary
First Grade Picture Perfect STEM - Crayons
Crayons was based on the story, The Day the Crayons Came Home. During this project, students observed the properties of crayons, learned the steps in manufacturing crayons, explored how crayons can go through reversible change, and designed a process for recycling broken crayons. Students wrote a postcard to themself from their new crayon’s
perspective.
Second Grade - Picture Perfect STEM - I Wanna
I Wanna was based on the story, I Wanna Iguana. During this project, students learned about the needs of living things and the habitats that provide those needs. Students chose an animal, went to Pebble Go to research the animal. Students used this research to write a letter persuading thier family to allow this pet in the home. Students then designed where this animal would live at their home.
Third Grade Picture Perfect STEM - The Inventor’s Secret
The Inventor’s Secret was based on the story, Rosie Revere Engineer and The Inventor’s Secret. During this project, students went through the design process, identify the problem, brainstorm, design, build, test and evaluate, redesign, share the solution. Students designed and built a balloon car using everyday materials. The secret we learned, “Keep at it!”
Fourth Grade Picture Perfect STEM - Mesmerized
Mesmerized was based on the story, Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved A Mystery That Baffled All of France. Students heard the true story of how Ben Franklin challenged Dr. Mesmer's "magic force" with a blind test. Students participated in a blind taste test of two different cereals. During this project, students learned that advertisers try to "mesmerize" us with their ads; however, evidence is needed to support the claims they make. Students created their own print ads in Canva using advertising techniques such as puffery, glittering generalities, or weasel words.
Cedar Creek Intermediate School
Bastrop Intermediate School
5th Grade Surviving to Thriving on Mars
Students finished writing proposals for their product or service idea for the colonization of mars. Students will be collecting survey data about feedback of their ideas.
6th grade Terrestrial Real Estate
Students finished building background on the various spheres of Earth that make the planet habitable, through experiments, online simulations, and a webquest. Next step is to research a location in the solar system that they will attempt to sell as real estate agents.
5th/6th group Dinosaurs to Drones
Students created flyers for tips for first time paleontologists in connection with our unit.
About Us
Email: cpinkston@bisdtx.org
Website: https://www.bisdtx.org/GT
Location: 906 Farm Street, Bastrop, TX, USA
Phone: 512-772-7100