The HAL (High Ability Learners) have been learning in-depth information concerning building positive relationships though empathy, respect, and cooperation, developing leadership skills, mastering higher-order thinking, developing a growth mindset, using critical thinking skills, fostering creativity, and applying knowledge to real-world problems.
What does this look like?
In the first week of December, for example, the students were engaged in a lesson about snowflakes. We watched a video of the science behind them - how the hydrogen and oxygen atoms form an H2O molecule that will always have, at its origin, six sides, that then continue to grow as the ice crystal (its scientific name) makes its way to the ground from high up in the clouds. We enjoyed some close-up images of snowflakes magnified through a microscope, some quite old as a man nicknamed "Snowflake Bentley" took surprisingly detailed pictures of them from 1885 to 1931. We then tried our hands at "creating" a six-sided snowflake, and learned that even in our classroom snowflakes, no two were alike! The HAL students were then able to share six new facts that they learned about snowflakes at the end of the lesson.
There is so much in the world to learn and explore! We will continue on our quest to gain information, and to be the kind of people that support and inspire others to do the same! Thank you for the opportunity to share this learning with your HAL student! We love our HAL program!
