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JSD GT News Blog

Introducing Norman the Ozobot

Posted by Alex Bates on 2/19/2020

Middle School GT recently gained an Ozobot with which to practice their coding. They named in Norman. Today, Kate Lonas, Delia Bailey, Logan Cu Roi, and Allison Sanders practiced their coding skills using Norman the Ozobot. 

Norman the Ozobot

Norman the Ozobot

Jr. High Quiz Bowl

Posted by Alex Bates on 1/21/2020

On Sat. January 18th, Jessieville 7th-9th graders competed in the Jr. High Regional Quiz Bowl Tournament for 3A Schools. Our students scored high enough as regionals to compete at the State Finals. Congratulations Quiz Bowlers!

2020 Jr. High Quiz Bowl Team

Elementary GT- Table of Explorers and Columbian Exchange Game

Posted by Alex Bates on 11/15/2019

Today, Elementary GT students learned about the different explorers who came to the Americas following Columbus's voyages to the New World. Students were challenged to order flashcards of explorers and patrons of explorers from most important to least important to the Age of Exploration. They had to work as a team and come to a consensus on their ordering of the cards.

Table of Explorers Challenge

After finishing the Table of Explorers Challenge, students then competed to hypothesize where goods originally came from, either the Old World (Afro-Eurasia) or the New World (the Americas). Students placed the flashcard of a plant, animal, or disease the bucket labeled with the area they thought is originally came from. The winners of the contest were Thomas Sinclair and Mashall Ware for getting the most correct answers. 

Columbian Exchange Game

Elementary GT - Air Cannons

Posted by Alex Bates on 11/13/2019

Today, Elementary GT students reviewed how the Ottomans used cannons to conquer Constantinople. As part of the review, students made air cannons as a STEM Project. 

Thomas and Reagan

Adeline and Ella

High School GT Cardboard Battle Bots

Posted by Alex Bates on 11/11/2019

Today, High School GT students competed with battle bots propelled by Sphero Spark robots. The students had to pop all their opponents' balloons to win the game. A team consisting of Jacob Semmler, Charlie Davis, Jacob Sanders, and Jacob Theriot won the game.

Battle Bots Round 3

Elementary GT and Mummified Apple's

Posted by Alex Bates on 10/14/2019

Elementary GT students have been learning about Ancient Egypt and the mummification process. Students built their own pyramids and are mummifying apples. They also painted their own canopic jars.

Painting Canopic Jars

Mummified Apples

Elementary GT - Robot Day

Posted by Alex Bates on 4/18/2019 2:00:00 PM

Today, students in 4th and 5th grade GT learned worked to build robots using Lego Mindstorm Kits and explored circuits using Squishy Circuits.

Squishy Circuits

Jayden and Logan building a Mindstorm Robot

Reagan, Lili, and Adaline building a Mindstorm Robot

Middle School GT- PIPER Computer Kit (Building a Laptop)

Posted by Alex Bates on 2/13/2019

Two Middle School GT students are currently working with the PIPER Computer Kit to build a laptop which runs on Raspberry Pi computer components. The PIPER Computer Kit 2018 Edition teaches young makers and engineers about computers and other electronic hardware gadgets through the fun of a Minecraft Raspberry Pi Edition video game and hands-on building and coding. The students shown constructing the laptop are Riley Blackmon and Cotton Cummings. The students watching them work is 5th grade GT student Logan Cu Roi.

Building PIPER Computer Kit

Cotton, Riley, and Logan Computer Kit

Cotton

Cotton

Middle School and Elementary School GT Roller Coaster STEM Challenge

Posted by Alex Bates on 1/28/2019

Over the past two weeks, 8th Grade, 4th Grade, and 5th Grade GT students competed to build ping pong ball roller coaster out of foil, pipe cleaners, straws, tape, and hot glue. The winners of this challenge were the 8th graders. The fourth graders came in second for the contest. Winners were chosen based on a rubric that gave points for height, duration of ride, number of 90 and 180 degree turns, as well as, other criteria. Bonus points were given to groups that used less than the allotted 75 objects to complete their track.

8th Grade GT Roller Coaster STEM Challenge

Elementary GT- Coding and TinkerCAD

Posted by Alex Bates on 11/26/2018

Elementary GT students have been working on sharpening their Coding Skills using Code.org and creating 3D objects in TinkerCAD. Pictured below, Delia Bailey is working on an activity in Code.org. Brinklee Heath, Logan Cu Roi, and Jaden Johnson are working in TinkerCAD to create 3-Dimensional objects that could later be printed on a 3D printer.

Delia Bailey on code.org

Brinklee Heath on TinkerCAD

Logan Cu Roi on TinkerCAD

Jaden Johnson in TinkerCAD

Near Normal Man - Holocaust Survivor Program at the Clinton Presidential Library

Posted by Alex Bates on 10/3/2018

On Oct. 3, 2018, the Jessieville High School GT group attended the “Near Normal Man” Holocaust Survivor Program at the Clinton Presidential Library. The program centered around Ben Stern, a man who survived two ghettos, nine concentration camps, the Nazi physician Josef Mengele, and two death marches before being liberated by American troops in 1945. The program began with a viewing of Near Normal Man, a 30-minute documentary film, featuring a first-hand account by Mr. Stern. At the end of the presentation, some of our Jessieville students were able to speak with Mr. Stern about his experiences.

Not Here Not Now www.nearnormalman.org

Group at Clinton Library

Jessieville Group at Holocaust Survivors Event

Group at Clinton Library

Group at Clinton Library

Group at Clinton Library

Elementary and Middle School Joint Project

Posted by Alex Bates on 9/27/2018

Elementary and Middle School began working on a joint lesson with the Brick Lab set. Using the Brick Lab blocks groups of elementary students paired with at least one 8th grader explored physics concepts such as the center of gravity and types of energy. 

8th grade and elementary combined groups

Brick lab

Brick lab 2

Silver Ducky STEM Chariot Races - 2018

Posted by Alex Bates on 9/11/2018

Once again it is that time... the Silver Ducky Chariot Races. Students build their chariots and work to keep their Rubber Ducky passenger safe in the process. Students drove their chariots using Sphero Robots and built them out of various supplies provided or that they brought to use in construction. 

Our Silver Ducky Race Winners for HS:

Elijah Bailey 

Lexi Bassett

Jacob Semmler

Nathan Pumphery

Ben Combs 

 

Our Silver Ducky Race Winners for MS:

Riley Blackmon

Cotton Cummings

Carson Freeland 

Payton Leveritt 

 

Our Silver Ducky Race Winners for ES:

 

TBA 

High School GT Winners

HS Winning Chariot and Silver Duck Trophy

Middle School GT Winner

MS Racers with Elementary spectators

MS Race Starting line

HS Starting line

HS Racing

A Day in GT - STEM, Chess, and Coding Oh My!

Posted by Alex Bates on 9/11/2018

Students in HS GT have the opportunity to engage in STEM, Coding, and other activities during GT time.

IQ Blocks STEM Challenge

Coding with Bloxels

Bloxels coding up close

STEM Challenges gravity maze

Chess players in GT

Elementary GT - Little Bits Inventions

Posted by Alex Bates on 5/4/2018 10:10:00 AM

Today, elementary GT worked with the Little Bits. LittleBits are a platform of easy-to-use electronic building blocks that empower students to invent anything, from their own remote controlled car, to a smart home device. The Bits snap together with magnets, no soldering, no wiring, no programming needed. Using Color-coded electronic Bits that snap together with magnets, elementary GT students were able to create cars that move, machines that make sounds, and many other STEM based inventions.

High School GT - 3D Pens

Posted by Alex Bates on 3/28/2018 11:45:00 AM

Today, the High School GT students experimented with 3D Printing Pens. These pens allow students to draw objects in 3D. Using the plastic filaments which are heated by the pens, students "draw" using the plastic to create the parts of a 3D object. Then using the warm plastic as a sort of glue, students assemble the parts to create a 3D object.

Elijah Bailey and the 3D Pens

Seth Kern and his 3D creation

High School GT with 3D Doodling

Taryn Anderson and Jill Robertson 3D Drawing

Elementary GT and the Great Wall Zip Line STEM Challenge

Posted by Alex Bates on 3/27/2018 10:20:00 AM

Today, Elementary GT students worked in groups to build a model of the Great Wall of China with a twist. These Great Walls were built with working Zip Lines. Using only the materials provided, these GT students worked hard to design and built functional Zip Lines along their Great Wall Models. 

Zip Line

Zip Line 2

Zip Line 3

Zip Line 5

Zip Line 4

High School GT Escape Room Field Trip

Posted by Alex Bates on 3/5/2018 3:15:00 PM

Today, High School Students from Jessieville High School's GT program participated in an Escape Room Field Trip. Students and teachers traveled to Escape Hot Springs and took part in escape room games called: The Cold Case, Discoveries through Time, and Bathhouse and Gamblers. The students who participated are as follows:

Noah Eskew

Lexi Bassett

Sidney McCann

Taryn Anderson

Taylor Cate

Charlie Davis

Grace Robertson

Nathan Pumphrey

Josh McEarl

Jacob Sanders

Elleigh Lowery

Jacob Theriot

Jacob Semmler

GT Students were joined in their Escape Room games by two Jessieville Administrators, Kendal Glomski and Melissa Speers. Each administrator participated in a separate game with a group of students.

All groups that participated in the escape room games beat their game.

Kendal Glomski and students at Escape Room

Team Why Me

Students getting ready after their win

Signing the wall after winning

Team Why Me Winner Photo Discoveries Through Time

Escape Room High School GT

High School GT Escape Room

High School GT Escape Room

High School GT Escape Room

Elementary 3D Doodlers

Posted by Alex Bates on 2/27/2018 9:35:00 AM

Today, Elementary GT explored how to uses 3D drawing pens to create 3 Dimensional works of art. These pens require students to follow a template or freestyle draw parts of an object and then build the parts to create 3D objects.

Elementary GT and 3D Doodlers

Elementary GT and 3D Doodlers

Jayden Johnson and 3D Doodlers

Jayden Johnson and 3D Doodlers

Delia and 3D Doodlers

Middle School GT- Regional Quiz Bowl Tournament

Posted by Alex Bates on 2/3/2018 5:00:00 PM

On Feb. 3rd, 7th and 8th grade GT students participated in the Regional Quiz Bowl Tournament at Two Rivers High School. Our team won three out of six matches and Ben Romero won a place on the All-Tournament Team. 

Elementary GT Sphero Bowling

Posted by Alex Bates on 1/23/2018 11:45:00 AM

Today, 3rd and 4th-grade Elementary GT students participated in Sphero Robot Bowling. Using the Sphero robots students were required to drive their robots to knock over bowling pins. We were joined for Sphero Bowling by Mrs. Glomski, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Mr. Johnson, Elementary Principal.

Jed Johnson and the Elementary GT Sphero Bowling Team

Kendal Glomski and the Elementary GT Sphero Bowling Team

Model UN 2017

Posted by Alex Bates on 11/29/2017 11:05:00 AM

On Nov. 17th and 18th, students from Jessieville High School participated in Model United Nations at UCA. According to the UCA Model UN webpage, "For more than five decades, the AMUN conference has been one of the largest high school Model UN conferences in the U.S.  Since 2001, more than 65 high schools in Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee have participated in AMUN conferences on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas each November.  The annual AMUN conference is sponsored by the Department of Political Science (AMUN program) and the Model United Nations (MUN) student organization at UCA." While participating in Model UN, students are given the opportunity to enhance their communication skills, improve their critical thinking skills, and increase their understanding of diplomacy and international politics. While participating in Model UN, students act as representatives of various countries throughout the world in the various committees of the United Nations. By participating in Model UN, students gain a greater understanding of how the United Nations works to address global social, political, and economic problems. 

This year our head delegate was Elijah Bailey. The rest of the Model UN Team for the 2017 conference was: Chloe Davis, Noah Eskew, Taryn Anderson, Lexi Bassett, Seth Kern, Evan Ang, Jacob Sanders, Charlie Davis, and Kelsey Saveall.

UN Model Team 2017

UN Model Team 2017 at opening session

UN Model Team at lunch

Negotiations in Progress

UN Model Team 2017 Planning next session

Elementary GT Rubber Ducky Chariot Races

Posted by Alex Bates on 11/13/2017 11:40:00 AM

The Jessieville Elementary GT students recently raced their Sphero Robot propelled chariots. The winners of this race were  Stella Owens, Blakely Vines, and Delia Bailey. 

Students and STEM Night

Posted by Alex Bates on 10/26/2017 5:00:00 PM

On Oct. 26th, 2017, high school students help to make STEM Night a success. After the GT Golden Ducky Chariot Race, students were allowed to build their own chariots using materials provided. This activity was a success because of the help of Ellie Green, Lathan Brian, Josh Ray, and Noah Eskew. who volunteered their time to help elementary students construct their chariots.

Hot Glue Gun Station with Josh Ray

Noah Eskew teaching Elementary students to drive their chariot

Noah Eskew giving a robotics lesson

Chariot Building with Lathan Brian, Ellie Green, Josh Ray, and Noah Eskew

JHS and JMS Golden Ducky Chariot Race Winners

Posted by Alex Bates on 10/26/2017 4:30:00 PM

On STEM Night, the JHS and JMS GT Students who won the Silver Ducky Award for winning their respective chariot races competed against each other for the overal Golden Ducky Awared. The Winners were the high school team's chariot driven by Noah Eskew. The JHS GT team members present for the Golden Ducky Race were Noah Eskew and Jacob Semmler. The Middle School racer present for the competition were Jaydon Alston and Spencer Morrow.

Noah Eskew and Jacob Semmler

Jaydon Alston and Spencer Morrow

JMS GT Intergenerational Quiz Bowl Tournament

Posted by Alex Bates on 10/19/2017 5:55:00 PM

Today, the Jessieville Middle School Quiz Bowl Team participated in an Intergenerational Quiz Bowl Tournament at the McAuley Center near Hot Springs Village. Congratulations to our Jessieville Middle School GT students for winning third place in the competition.

Jessieville Middle School Gifted and Talented Inter-generational Quiz Bowl Match Team

Inter-generational Quiz Bowl

Inter-generational Quiz Bowl

Inter-generational Quiz Bowl

JSD High School GT – Geocaching Day

Posted by Alex Bates on 10/6/2017 11:45:00 PM

On October 6th, during academic hall, the High School GT class participated in a Geo-Caching day. Using GPS systems, students searched for hidden geocaches around campus. Thank you to Jimmy and Sandy Fryar for donating their time to come teach our students about Geocaching and how to use a GPS system.

Jessieville GT: Rubber Ducky Chariot Racing Winners

Posted by Alex Bates on 9/22/2017 3:30:00 PM

The Winners of the JSD GT Rubber Ducky Chariot Races are as follows:

High School: Nathan Pumphery, Noah Eskew, Jacob Semmler, Lexi Bassett, and Elijah Bailey

Middle School: Hunter Pye, Spencer Morrow, Justin Boutwell, Jayden Alston, and Breya Raney

 

Both teams will compete on STEM Night for the Golden Ducky and to be overall champions of the Rubber Ducky Chariot Race. 

JSD News

Posted by Alex Bates on 9/22/2017 8:00:00 AM

On Sept. 22 in the High School Library students in the GT program at Jessieville High School and Middle School will compete in the "Rubber Ducky Chariot Race" event. 

Students were required to work in groups to build a chariot for their groups assigned rubber ducky. The chariots will be pulled by Sphero Sprk robots driven by students. 

Students will compete by in High School and Middle School divisions first. Then on STEM night, the winner of the High School Race and the Middle School race will compete aganist each other for a grand prize.