For summer 2023 this years Bridge to GATE students will have the opportunity to connect while engaging in activities that will keep their learning going throughout the summer. These challenges are optional. However, for those that participate in all challenges they will receive something for their efforts in the fall.
Students will be given a schedule to take home to help keep them on track but they do not have to follow it exactly. Do what works for you and your family. A checkoff schedule is the best way to keep students engaged in learning throughout the summer. If the calender I provide does not work for your timeline I suggest making your own then picking a designated time every day/week to accomplish the tasks. If a student is engaged and wants to keep learning even though the schedule says to wait till the next day do not hold them back let them keep going. They always have the option to participate in more than one activity.
These activities do require the assistance of an adult. For the reading challenge they will need help getting a library card and signing up for the challenge on the Clinton-Macomb Public Library website under Summer Reading (at the bottom of the page). The contest runs from June 16-August 18, 2023. If you are a member of another library I encourage you to see if they have a summer reading challenge for kids. If they do you are welcome to sign up for that one and it also counts as credit.
For the Pen Pal challenge a parent needs to email Mrs. Nill with approval to share the students address with other students. In the email also include the address you would like other students to write to you at. No worries if you will be on vacation at any point you can always write your letters early if you need to.
Lastly, the STEM Challenge calls for materials and a safe place to conduct the experiment so they will need your help in getting started and their thinking is always challenged when they have someone to run ideas with while designing.
Students will receive credit by posting their thoughts or final projects to our class padlet pages. You will find each of them linked below in the directions. Upon coming back to school take a picture of their reading challenge and print or email it to Mrs. Nill for credit towards participation.
As always if you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to reach out this summer. We look forward to seeing their learning continue and regathering in the fall. Have a great summer!
Now is your time to connect with your GATE classmates this summer. We will be doing a pen pal challenge. If you are interested you will have a parent email me with permission to share your address with other students in the class by June 13th . You will receive a schedule via email of who are to write to every week. It will include your pen pals name and their address. Students will write them a letter sharing anything about yourself or if you need some info you can visit the classroom page and follow the prompt https://padlet.com/ambernill/62j9nlhc0g1pgqa8 .
Don’t forget to write every week as someone will be awaiting their letter. And if you are going on vacation send it early and explain it in the letter. They will understand.
Reading Challenge
Get out your library card or sign up for one through the Clinton Macomb Public Library. Visit the following website and scroll to the bottom and choose Summer Reading to sign up for this challenge. Option to find your local library's reading challenges and sign up for one of them if you do not live in Macomb.
Once you have selected your challenge log onto our class padlet https://padlet.com/ambernill/v9l10xtw0k4z4tj9 and share it with your classmates. Every time you complete a book you will add it to the class page. This way others can see what you are reading and maybe choose to read it as well.
Interest Challenge
For the month of July you get to choose an activity that interests you and what your family is doing this summer. You must pick 1 from the list and add it to https://padlet.com/ambernill/fzwjhuuuft75vkyp . If you have any trouble uploading your work to the class page email it to me and I can do it for you. [email protected]
You have until August 4th to complete it.
Visiting a museum and providing a two-paragraph summary of the experience. The first about the museum in general, and the second covering one or two interesting things encountered there.
Conducting an interview with a person who lives or lived in a different country, referencing some of the cultural markers of the country in which the person lived.
Participating in a class or workshop that may be held at a camp, public library, YMCA, school, youth organization, etc. and writing a two-paragraph summary of the experience, including what was learned.
Writing a piece of creative writing that could be a collection of poetry, a short play, or work of fiction.
Attending a performance and creating a poster advertising the event or writing a two-paragraph review of the event.
Creating a travel advertisement that is either a recorded jingle or a tri-fold brochure about a place visited during the summer.
Creating a Web Page on a well-known individual in any professional field.
Creating a Travel Blog to document travel (real or imaginary) over the summer.
STEM Challenge
Choose any of the following activities/projects that build on the Math we learned this year. I’ve also included a new activity that we didn’t get time to do but if you are interested in coding this is a great class to participate in just takes some extra time.
You only have to choose one but are welcome to do as many as you like. While you are completing the activity, take notes, pictures, or video to upload to the class page https://padlet.com/ambernill/n527di8lp9a27mgs to share it with others.
(Computer Science) Coding This is a free site where you can sign up to learn how to code at home. Follow the link to sign up and get started. It's free! studio.code.org/courses
(Optional) For more advanced basic math practice you can continue on Khan Academy or Prodigy. If you need help let us know.