Middle School Gifted Program

The WCASD Middle School Gifted Education Enrichment Program supports individualized instructional programs tailored to fit the needs of each identified gifted student. Students can select from a range of courses and topics based on their interests. The variety of course offerings range from Model United Nations to Language Forensics and science research.

In addition to the course offerings, the Middle School Gifted Program also engages students in seminars, field trips, regional competitions, independent study, and guest speaker events. All these offerings serve as extensions to the regular education curriculum.

Middle school students are encouraged to work in small groups on self-selected topics to develop ideas through effective collaboration. Culminating projects are shared to solidify the learning and benefit groups within the learning community.

List of Courses Offered in the Middle School

(Since the program is interest based, not all programs run every year at every school)

• Middle School Forensics (Language) Tournament (CCIU):  This competition/tournament provides opportunities for students to be involved in various forms of public speaking:  debate, oral interpretation, original oratory, discussion or extemporaneous speaking.  In addition, students will sharpen their research skills, writing skills, and their ability to work in cooperation with others through discussion and debate. The CCIU Tournament takes place in the spring for debate and speeches. The Optimist's Contest date also takes place in the spring.
  
  
• Knowledge Bowl:  Students research areas of interest and develop their knowledge base, speed of recall, nonverbal communication skills and more.  These activities culminate in participation in The Regional Knowledge Bowl. Similar to Jeopardy, but team oriented, this competition involves fast paced thinking and teamwork. Questions are based on the topics covered in middle school, such as math, science, history, language skills, literature, music, and geography, plus information concerning current events. Teams are designed to create well rounded seventh/eighth grade teams:  a minimum of four students on a team, with a maximum of eight students on a team. Some middle school afterschool practices will be held at FMS, PMS, and SMS on a rotating basis. The County Knowledge Bowl Tournament typically occurs in April in Downingtown.
  
  
• Shakespearean Theater and Acting (CCIU):  Students work together to condense, rewrite and/or "re-envision" a Shakespearean play, not to exceed 25 minutes. Students create their character role and memorize lines as well as create costumes, set, festival banner and program for their work. The culminating activity is a performance of the Shakespearean work at the Middle School Shakespearean Festival in May. Some  after school  and/or lunch practices may be needed as the performance date approaches.
  
  
• Aesthetics:  Students work on real world projects. If students love making and looking at art, all types of painting, sculpture, history and cultures, then they will enjoy this course.They learn about art through the Barnes method of Aesthetics Art Interpretation and Appreciation. Students will be able to explore their creative side.
  
  
• Medical Investigations:  Students will explore by interest the field of medicine. Students will use technology to research and make presentations about various medical professions. They will also be able to connect with medical professionals.
  
  
• Flight:  Does your head turn up each time a plane flies overhead? Are you interested in the science of flight? Are you thinking about becoming a pilot some day? Do you have a myriad of questions to ask the flight instructor? Would you love to try a flight simulator or sit in a real helicopter? Would you love to interview a pilot, research aeronautic concepts, or take a field trip to a local airport? This course will give you the wings you need to pursue your aeronautical dreams.
  
  
• Amusement Park Design and Physics II:  This module is for the creative engineer. Students look at various aspects of interactive large scale entertainment. Discovery through the design process may involve physics, math, experimentation, logic and aesthetics discussion. Students build models, experiment with design, use technology and physically experience sensory stimuli in a trip to a nearby amusement park.
  
  
• Sports and Stats:  Do you daydream about touchdowns, homeruns, and hat tricks? Learn about the lives and stories of some of the great athletes in history and the games to which they dedicated their lives. In this course, students have the opportunity to explore sports and discover some of the statistically significant truths inherent in them. Students may even choose to develop their own sport!
• CSI Master Sleuth:  Description to follow.
• Architecture:  Description to follow.
• Film Analysis:  Description to follow.
• Dream Analysis:  Description to follow.
• Lateral Thought:  Description to follow.
• Model United Nations: Description to follow.