6th Grade QUEST Photography Art Show

6th grade Quest students wrapped up an exciting photography unit by hosting the 1st Annual Photography Art Show. The art show featured the different types of work from the students. The class captured photos of nature scenes, posed subjects, edited black and white photography pieces, and created illusion photos.  We want to thank all who came to view the outstanding work of our MSP students. The class truly enjoyed this unit of study.

I Spy

Creative Photography 

Through our photography unit we have taken some things that interests us and created a new element into our photography study. We all enjoy a good look at an I spy puzzle. So why not create our own with small trinkets that we have lying around the house. Each student arranged the small pieces and parts in any way they pleased onto a white backdrop. They then took a photo and typed out 10 or more things they would want someone else to spy in their picture. We had so much fun doing this and seeing each others finished product! 

Picture This! 

We have started a photography unit of study, and the students are having a blast. Our class was visited by Kristi Harris, a local photographer, who helped get the students started on capturing great pictures. Through her visit, we learned new vocabulary that is used in the photography field, as well as important tips to keep in mind while snapping that perfect picture. We are still working on our collage of photos, but here are a few that we have started with.  

Sweet Genius

Halloween Wars Edition  

Today our class participated in a Sweet Genius – Halloween Wars Edition Competition. Each student was given a large size brownie and as many trips as necessary to the food bar which contained candies, marsh mellows, icing, and etc. This competition started out by having each competitor pick a scroll from a hat which would tell them what Halloween character they would replicate. The creative juices began to flow from there. After a few minutes of brainstorming, the countdown began. Each person had 45 minutes to gather, design, and execute. At the end each student explained and discussed with the judges (Mrs. Vicki and Coach Johnson) what their character was made from and how they executed their product so well. It was a very hard decision, but in the end, our winner of this year’s Sweet Genius – Halloween Wars Edition went to Kamron Billiot who replicated the Halloween scarecrow. Great job to everyone who participated. 

Project Polaris - Mission Complete 

After several weeks of working towards our destination, POLARIS, we have come to a successful completion. Pod members worked so well with one another that they out witted Dastardly Derek and his attempts to make our mission fail. As students worked through complex mathematical tasks, each team was awarded "Star Bucks" that would help buy them supplies to build an intergalactic space station on Polaris. With time running out and fueling running low, pod members put their heads together and got the job done. In the end, each group was able to buy enough supplies to build a very nice space station. I am so proud of these groups and the leadership, creativity, and initiative that they show. We can now all live in intergalactic peace. 

Exciting Saturday Gifted Programs

Exciting Saturday Gifted Programs

2015-2016 Saturday Gifted Studies Programs

The Saturday Gifted Studies Program at The University of Southern Mississippi is designed to enhance cognitive and affective abilities of gifted students through planned enrichment/acceleration programming.  Emphasis is placed on participation in areas that provide in-depth analysis of specific topics in small-group activities with other gifted youth.

Spring Saturday Gifted Studies - USM Hattiesburg Campus

January 23 - March 5, 2016 (Seven Saturdays), 9 a.m - Noon

For complete descriptions of courses and to apply online, visit www.usm.edu/gifted.


Payment and Forms Deadline November 30,2015

Lights, Stars, and Planets!

6^th Grade Quest students enjoyed discovering how astronomers use lights to study the stars and planets. Our class was visited by Mrs. April Fowler, who showed and taught us all about how this works. We learned about spectroscopy and how it could possibly be the most powerful tool that astronomers use.  Once you take light from a star, planet, or galaxy and pass it through a spectroscope it is a lot like a prism. It splits the light into its component colors. We also learned that spectroscopy tells you a star’s temperature, mass, and surface gravity. The students thoroughly enjoyed this experience and gained lots of new knowledge. 

Project Polaris 

Project Polaris is taking off with a BLAST! Students have found their pod members, created their team name, designed a banner, slogan, symbol, and theme song to support their mission in order to help reach "Project Polaris." Each group has to work together to complete each challenge given to them each day. The better they work and communicate, the more "Starbucks" they receive. It has been a great challenge at times, but the students are doing a great job. 

Parachute Challenge 

Our latest STEM project was a "Fairy Tale" themed cooperative learning experience. Each group received a brown bag with many items that could be used to construct a parachute. The idea came from Jack not being able to escape the giant by climbing down the bean stalk because the giant had wised up and lined the stalk with barbwire. The students had to work in small groups in order to help Jack escape the giant and return to Earth. The students did a great job and really used some creative construction while preparing their parachutes. 

A Bit About Me

Our school theme this year is "Setting the Stage for Success". With that, my 6th grade Quest students wrote an autobiography and took a move star posed picture. Each student has so many neat and awesome characteristics about themselves to share. I enjoyed seeing them be able to highlight those special events from their lives. I think their favorite part was being able to put their signature on the picture to be displayed for their peers to see. 

Gumdrop Challenge

Our Quest gumdrop structure challenge was a success. Teams worked together to create a gumdrop design that would be sturdy enough to support the weight of a box. Students were only able to use 10 gumdrops and 20 toothpicks. Each team worked diligently to design a structure that would meet all of the requirements. I was super excited to see the many different designs that were a hit. 

Take me to the Fair!

This week our Quest lass created and worked on some really cool abstract art to enter into our county fair that is coming up right around the corner. Students used painters tape, acrylic paint, and stones to express their individuality. We had a great time discussing how abstract art has endless opportunities of being able to create timeless art pieces. Can't wait to see them all displayed at the fair. Come and see them too. School Fair Holiday is Friday, September 4th. 

Mrs. Johnson’s 6^th grade Quest class has been studying balances of forces involving engineering. Students learned about different types of bridge structures and how those invisible forces work together to hold substantial amounts of weight. Students were given a task to create a paper bridge by using only books and two sheets of paper.  Each group was able to create several designs and test them by the weight of many pennies. For the final challenge, each group chose to display and weight down the bridge design that they felt was the strongest. Each group did an excellent job and created a bridge that showed great architectural skills.

Syllabus

Quest 6th grade

SY:  2015-2016

Holly Johnson

Credentials: Master’s Degree in Gifted Education from William Carey University and  Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the William Carey University (K-6). This is my seventh year of teaching.

Parents wanting to know more about the qualifications may contact the Poplarville School District Central Office.

Contact Information: I can be contacted by phone or email. The phone number for the Middle School of Poplarville is (601)795-1350. My email address is hjohnson@poplarvilleschools.org.  Email is the best way to contact me. 

Class Description:

Classes meet for 72 minutes each day.  Gifted classes are not designed to practice or increase ability in the regular education curriculum, but to offer skills that can be enhanced in an environment that will allow each individual child to follow his or her own interests and strengths.  The Quest program is a differentiated program that offers a wide variety of learning skills and activities.  Each year provides the students with an array of different concepts and methods.

Class Expectations

Course Schedule

          The students meet each week for a total of 360 minutes. During this time, students will be involved in a variety of projects and individual studies of his/her interests.

Classroom Rules

          Do not do anything that inhibits your or someone else’s learning.

          Come each day prepared to give your very best.

          The more I do, the less you will do.  Be prepared to work things out for yourself.

Student Responsibilities – Each student will be expected to work and behave in a productive manner.  Discipline problems will not be tolerated.

Special Projects and Events – Possible field trips with notification in advance.

Required Materials / Supplies – This can be found on the regular classroom supply list.

Class Procedures

          Homework – None, unless the student chooses to create special projects at home.

          Quest classes are non-graded.  However, parent letters and report cards will be sent home at the end of each nine-week period. 

          Discipline

1.     Warning / Student Conference

2.     Letter of Concern to Parent

3.     Team/ Student Conference

4.     Parent Call

5.     Office Referral

*Poplarville School district does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religions, national origin, or disability and is in compliance with Title IX of the educational amendment of 1972 and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Welcome to Quest @ MSP!!