Innovative Thinkers 3

Innovative Thinkers 3 
TEKS

Fall Semester

Unit Title

Team Building

High School Planning

Speech

Art with Purpose

Strength Showcase

Spheros

Entrepreneurship

Time

1 week

1 week

3 weeks

4 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

4 weeks

Understandings

Students understand their own characteristics as GT individuals, best practices for functioning as a GT student, and how to foster relationships through social interactive activities.Students understand high school requirements, the importance of mindfulness, and how to create SMART goals and a 4-year plan that connects to their future.Students understand the basics of good presentation skills (PVLEGS: posture, voice, gesture, etc.) and strategies to reduce communication apprehension.Students understand the intersection of art and activism, how propaganda and PSA posters express messages, and the rules of creating art with a specific message.Students discover the power of their own voice, understand that their stories matter, and learn to connect their personal strengths to their passions through video podcasting.Students understand how to use variables, if/then/else statements, and block coding to create logic-based programs (e.g., Rock, Paper, Scissors).Students understand business models, the cost of goods sold (COGS), the unique value proposition (UVP), and how to create and market a product.

TEKS

Character Traits: 120.7(c)(3)(B) 

ELA: 8.1(D)

Character Traits: 120.7(c)(2)(C) 

 

ELA: 8.5(A)

ELA: 8.1(C)

 

Tech Apps: 8.7

Art (MS3): 117.204(c)(1)(D) 

 

ELA: 8.9(A)

Tech Apps: 8.11(A) 

 

ELA: 8.6(A)

Tech Apps: 8.2(B) 

 

Tech Apps: 8.1(B)

Social Studies: 8.14(B) 

 

Tech Apps: 8.3(A)

GT Continuum 

of Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Scholarly Habits

Metacognition

PresentationCreative Thinking Depth & Complexity.

Creative Thinking 

Scholarly Inquiry

Convergent Thinking

Metacognition

Decision Making 

Creative Thinking

 

Spring Semester

Unit Title

Medieval Minecraft

Spheros

Mock Trials

STEAM Challenges

Boats

Time

1 week

1 week

4 weeks

3 weeks

8 weeks

Understandings

Students understand the architectural features of medieval castles and apply design skills to build a castle within constraints.Students understand how to precisely control movement and speed through block-based programming, and apply logic to solve practical problems (e.g., jousting or soccer).,Students understand the art of agreeing to disagree, logical progression, meaningful questioning, and legal terminology by analyzing evidence and perspectives.Students understand the engineering design process, the impact of natural disasters, and how to innovate disaster-resistant structural designs through collaboration.Students understand the science of buoyancy, the evolution of boat design, and the benefits of following the engineering process to build a functional cardboard boat.

TEKS

Social Studies: 8.29(G)

Tech Apps: 8.3(B)

Science: 8.7(A) 

 

Tech Apps: 8.1(E)

ELA: 8.1(C)

 

Social Studies: 8.19(C)

Science: 8.1(B)

 

Science: 8.11(A)

Science: 8.1(B)

 

Math: 8.7(A)

GT Continuum

of Skills

Depth & Complexity

Creative Thinking

Scholarly Inquiry

Critical Thinking

Depth & Complexity

Effective Communication

Decision Making

Creative Thinking

Scholarly Habits

Collaboration