Inside the Classroom: Lindsey Hart - Lance Thompson Elementary/Gifted and Talented
Inside the Classroom: Lindsey Hart - Lance Thompson Elementary/Gifted and Talented
Inside the Classroom is a series that visits Northwest ISD campuses throughout the year and highlights the magical moments that happen between teachers and students each and every day across the entire 234 square miles of NISD.
As we celebrate Gifted & Talented Awareness Week, the next edition of Inside the Classroom takes you inside Lindsey Hart’s class at Lance Thompson Elementary School where students were thinking like imagineers and entrepreneurs.
During two class periods, fourth- and fifth-grade students were creating ancient civilization-themed amusement parks and food trucks, respectively. Ms. Hart’s classroom, laid out identically to the art classroom next door, was the perfect setup for this creative experience.
When we visited, students were enthralled in creating 3D models of their projects with the goal of completing them before a gifted and talented showcase in May. One corner of Ms. Hart’s class was full of boxes, available for any student who needed cardboard as the basis of their project.
Scattered throughout the rest of the room, on desks and tucked away in drawers, were various other supplies. There was a buzz in the air as beads, clay and more were up for sale. That’s right, the supplies had to be purchased – with Dojo points!
In Ms. Hart’s class, students have jobs, and throughout the year they can earn Class Dojo points for all sorts of things. For example, during our visits, every student earned points for helping clean the classroom at dismissal time. With the points they’ve earned throughout the year, students bought extra supplies to spruce up their projects, with one student acting as the class accountant.
However, the 3D models were just the tip of the iceberg for this project. Before our visit, students had completed lots of research. From discovering more about Ancient India, China and Rome for fourth graders, to checking off the aspects of their business plans for fifth graders, Ms. Hart’s students began building with a strong understanding and clear vision for their projects.
As the Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented says, gifted learners don’t just need more work, they need different work. That is exactly what Ms. Hart and GT specialists throughout NISD are doing with research projects like the ones featured here.
For example, Ms. Hart created an entrepreneur portfolio for her fifth graders. In the portfolio, students conducted their research, completed business plans, created blueprints, truck elevations and more.
Once they were ready to create their trucks, students could either build a physical 3D model or design their truck in Tinkercad, a 3D modeling application designed with students in mind.
In fourth grade, students created their project in groups and began by drawing a map of their amusement park. They then built on top of their map using the supplies around Ms. Hart’s room. Some students even took advantage of the class’ 3D printer and brought to life items they designed in Tinkercad.
As their creations began to come to life, it was amazing to see creativity, research, teamwork, technology, and hands-on building all come together.
Thanks to teachers like Ms. Hart, gifted and talented students get the services and challenges they need to thrive. As we celebrate Gifted & Talented Awareness Week, be sure to thank your campus GT specialist for all they do.
Check back regularly all year as we continue to visit students and teachers throughout Northwest ISD and offer a rarely seen look Inside the Classroom.