Gifted Resource Room

What a great 4 weeks of learning it has been! We are well underway with our units. See below for a recap of our learning!

1st Grade:

Students began the year with a creative building challenge using LEGOs and by decorating their folders. We then read a trickster tale, and students completed a writing sample that we will use for comparison after the unit. Students were introduced to Yolanda the Yarnspinner and her ability to "spin tales" as a storyteller. They learned about "colorful" words, which are descriptive words that help readers create a mental image. Students then brainstormed words and identified synonyms for them. Along the way, students learned how to play Rush Hour Jr. and Color Code.

2nd Grade:

Students started the year by working together to stack cups using a rubber band and string, as well as decorating their folders. They were introduced to making inferences by using clues and prior knowledge to draw conclusions. We read the story Two Bad Ants to practice making inferences about mystery household items. Students were then introduced to The Case of the Broken Fishbowl, where they analyzed evidence found at the scene. They were then introduced to the suspects and developed possible motives for each one.

3rd Grade:

Students started the year with an inferencing activity in which they had to guess which teacher a mystery bag belonged to. Each week, we listen to the Six Minutes Podcast, focusing on identifying the main idea and answering discussion questions. Students decorated their folders and learned how to play Shape by Shape. They then began exploring interactions, actions between living and nonliving things, and participated in an Interaction Scavenger Hunt around the building. We categorized these interactions and learned the four generalizations that will guide our unit. Students then read The Great Kapok Tree, and we discussed the impacts of deforestation from the perspectives of the animals in the story.

4th Grade:

Students started the year with critical-thinking activities such as Can You Zooley? and Soup, Salad, or Sandwich? Each week, we also listen to the Six Minutes Podcast, focusing on identifying the main idea and answering discussion questions. Students participated in several team-building activities, including the String Lifter Challenge and the Human Knot. For their independent learning projects, students designed a self-portrait, with one side representing their outward traits and the other representing their inner traits, and they are currently working on a "Story Behind My Portrait" piece. In math, students completed their Algebra pretest and began exploring place value by identifying mystery numbers through yes-or-no questions. We began our space unit by discussing Möbius strips and their representation of infinity, and we also started our novel study of A Wrinkle in Time.

5th Grade:

Each week, we listen to The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel, focusing on identifying the main idea and answering discussion questions. Students have participated in several team-building activities, including the String Lifter Challenge and building the tallest free-standing balloon tower. For their independent learning projects, students designed a self-portrait, with one side representing their outward traits and the other representing their inner traits, and are currently working on a "Story Behind My Portrait" piece. In math, students began working on a volume challenge in which they used different 2D and 3D views to construct a cube model. We also began our architecture unit, and students created their own class definition of architecture. They then learned about Louis Sullivan's belief that a building's purpose should drive its design. Finally, students analyzed McDonald's restaurants from around the world and evaluated whether their form supported their primary function.

Last but not least, there will be a Bridge Week October 5th - 9th. This means there will be no services for that week. Instead, your child will be coming to do a creative writing lesson with me with their class.

Welcome to the 2026-27 SY!

This will be my 6th year teaching at Occoquan, and my 4th in Gifted! I am super excited to resume challenging the minds of the next generation. This will be a great year!

Fun Facts About Me:

1. I am a PROUD member of Altruista (Go Blue!)

2. I am a die-hard Baltimore Ravens fan.

3. I LOVE to travel. My most recent trip was to Hawaii.

4. I have a puppy named Lewis, who I love to spend time with.

5. I got married in March, and my new name is Mrs. McCown.

6. Princess Tiana is the BEST Disney princess ever!

7. Chipotle is my favorite fast food restaurant.

8. I was a Gifted student in PWCS.

1st Grade (Yolanda the Yarnspinner)

Students will determine the structure of various pieces of literature and will then use that structure in their own original writings. As a final product, students will publish their own trickster tale.

2nd Grade (Case of the Broken Fishbowl & Beyond Words)

In the Case of the Broken Fishbowl, as practicing detectives, students will follow the scientific investigation process to collect and analyze evidence from a simulated crime scene. They will use critical thinking and deductive reasoning to narrow down the suspects and solve the case. Students will use persuasive oral and written communication skills to share their findings. In Beyond Words, students will use creative thinking, critical thinking, and literary analysis as they study simile, metaphor, and personification. As a final product, they will write their own poem.

3rd Grade (Interactions in Ecology and Literature)

Students will develop an understanding of interactions within ecosystems and the relationships among living things, their environments, and human influences. They will be engaged as scientists, readers, and researchers as they learn to clarify their thinking, explain their reasoning, justify their ideas, and communicate with others. Through the analysis of literature, informational texts, art, and real-world ecological issues, they will investigate complex questions and evaluate multiple perspectives. As part of the unit, students will participate in a novel study of The One and Only Ivan, using the story to explore themes of change, relationships, and the impact of human decisions on the natural world. They will create evidence-based products and solutions that demonstrate their understanding of interactions and change.

4th Grade (Space, Structure, and Story)

In this year-long unit, students will study the history of space exploration to develop an understanding of how the past influences the future. They will identify major milestones in space exploration, analyze their impact on society and scientific advancement, and investigate possibilities for the future of space travel. Through the Vanderbilt Gifted curriculum Space, Structure, and Story, students will explore Earth and space science concepts such as gravity, stars, planets, black holes, and the structure of the universe while making connections to literature, art, poetry, and science fiction. Throughout the year, students will engage in discussions, novel studies, research projects, creative and analytical writing, and engineering design challenges that encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation.

5th Grade (Amusement Parks)

In this year-long unit, students will study architecture, physics, and advertising in the context of creating an amusement park. Students simulate design teams as they plan, design, construct, and present projects like professionals in those fields. End products include an architectural model of a building, a model roller coaster, and a television commercial.

Please see below for this year's Gifted schedule! Students are required to receive services for a minimum of 28 sessions. My goal is to see them for 30!

For additional activities, check out the QR code to the left. Teachers also have this link to provide extra enrichment in the classroom.

Each month I will update this newsletter to reflect the learning going on in the Gifted Classroom. It will be my goal to send weekly School Status updates to provide more information about what we do in individual sessions.

Mrs. McCown

mccownme@pwcs.edu

703-494-2195