Course Descriptions & Schedules
Courses for Students Who Have Completed Sixth Grade in June 2009
| Course # | Course Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 2961 | The Baker Street Irregulars (AM) | 8:30 - 12:00 |
| 2962 | The Baker Street Irregulars (PM) | 1:00 - 4:30 |
| 2963 | Writing for Secondary School (AM) | 8:30 - 12:00 |
| 2964 | Writing for Secondary School (PM) | 1:00 - 4:30 |
| 2965 | Cosmic Wonders: A Beautiful Chaos (AM) | 8:30 - 12:00 |
| 2966 | Cosmic Wonders: A Beautiful Chaos (PM) | 1:00 - 4:30 |
| Additional Option for Returning ED Students | N/A |
All courses are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
The Baker Street Irregulars: The Art of Mathematical Problem Solving
| 2961 | Effie Hsu | $505 | 8:30 - 12:00 |
| 2962 | Effie Hsu | $505 | 1:00 - 4:30 |
When Sherlock Holmes had trouble with a mystery, he often turned to the Baker Street Irregulars, a group of London kids, to help him solve the problem. Like the Baker Street Irregulars, students in this class will be challenged by a series of unique problems. Since each problem is different, we will learn general problem-solving strategies that can be applied to a wide variety of problems—such as looking for patterns, drawing diagrams, working backward, questioning assumptions, and using logical reasoning—rather than specific procedures or formulas. We will work collaboratively and independently to solve a variety of problems ranging from realistic to fanciful, including picture problems, word puzzles, mysteries, geometric problems, secret codes, logic problems, and strategy games. Students should expect 1-2 hours of homework per class. Each weekday assignment consists of six problems that make use of the techniques presented in class, and the weekend assignments involve extra creativity.
Writing for Secondary School
| 2963 | Chris Chun | $505 | 8:30 - 12:00 |
| 2964 | Chris Chun | $505 | 1:00 - 4:30 |
This class will focus on the writing process: pre-writing, drafting, editing, and revising. We will practice expository writing (analysis, persuasion, and interpretation) as well as prose writing (description, narration, and modeling). While learning various writing styles, we will discover the importance of voice and point-of-view in writing. Each of us will keep a journal and will read a variety of stories, essays, and explanatory materials.
Cosmic Wonders: A Beautiful Chaos
| 2965 | Emily Chan & Lindsay Wells | $515 | 8:30 - 12:00 |
| 2966 | Emily Chan & Lindsay Wells | $515 | 1:00 - 4:30 |
Up in the sky, look! It's a bird... it's a plane... no, it's a Supergiant! Have you ever looked up into the night sky and wondered about the planets, stars, and beyond? This course will take you on a journey through space and time, covering cosmic topics such as galaxies, stellar evolution, black holes, quasars, and more! From the Big Bang theory to groundbreaking research in the search for exoplanets and extraterrestrial life, this course will introduce you to the elegant mysteries of the cosmos and illuminate dramatic events taking place across the Universe.
Additional Option for Returning ED Students
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Returning ED students who will be completing Sixth Grade in June 2009 are also eligible to apply to the following courses in the Secondary Division (SD) on the Berkeley campus (these links will take you to the SD course descriptions section):
Spaces in these six-week courses are reserved for exceptional students who are ready for the challenge of demanding, rigorous coursework. The Director will determine admission and placement. NOTE: New ATDP applicants who will be completing 6th grade in June 2009 are not eligible for the Secondary Division.
Students who decide to apply to SD must complete an SD application, available for download here. Former ED students applying to SD are considered new students for application purposes. The SD application deadline is Wednesday, March 4, 2009. Apply early!
Since placement in SD is not guaranteed for sixth graders, the SD application should also include acceptable ED course choices as alternatives.