ABIS students present independent projects
By:Kristy Klaus
The next Einstein may be among those students who presented their research projects during an end-of-the-year program Tuesday at Alexander Batcho Intermediate School.
For academically gifted students in third through seventh grades, a year of independent research culminated in projects they presented to parents, administrators and other students in the school library.
“The program teaches students it is OK to follow their passions and devote yourself to something that is special to you,” said Dr. Terry Burik, director of the school’s Department of Special Services, which oversees the academically gifted program.
Dr. Burik said these students have a passion about an area they love, which she compared to Albert Einstein’s quest for knowledge that began with a compass his mother gave him when he was 4 years old.
“Gifted people have a deeper understanding of a specific area of interest,” said Dr. Burik.
Back in September, the students chose an area of interest unique to them and developed a topic for independent study, through a formal meeting with their guidance counselors, teachers and parents.
Most students’ topics were selected to connect with their classroom curriculum so teachers could help encourage the research. The students’ progress also was monitored in monthly meetings and by keeping a portfolio of information tracking their work.
Dr. Burik said the projects give older students the opportunity to look at different aspects of their interests and to investigate careers.
For seventh-grader Alison Williams’ project “Education Now and Then,” she conducted several interviews to compare the education of the past with that available today.
Alison interviewed her grandmother to learn about education in the 1940s, her mother to learn about education in the 1960s, her aunt to learn about education in the 1980s, and a classmate to learn about education now.
“My project helped me to find out more information about my dream,” said Alison, who wants someday to be a teacher.
Classmate Melody Leach did a project titled “Jumping Jupiter” with her friend Ashley Davey.
Melody said she knew she wanted to do something science-related, because she hopes to someday become a pediatrician.
Dr. Burik said projects allowed younger students to explore what they are interested in.
Fourth-grader Joseph Perry did his project on Saturn because it is his favorite planet, and third-grader Kevin Sellar said he chose his project, “Our Solar System,” because he knew something about the planets and wanted to learn more.
Students read books and articles, and did Internet searches to find their information. They wrote reports about their topics, and made mobiles, presentation boards and models.
Sixth-grader Katrina DeSantis researched her project, “Asian Cultures in the Year 2000,” so thoroughly she even included an article from Monday’s Star Ledger on her presentation board.
According to Dr. Burik, this is the first year students from Weston School, Roosevelt School and ABIS congregated for group presentations. This type of presentation helps to encourage public speaking skills and helps students and parents see the variety of projects. Also, having all the academically gifted students together gives parents and students a sense of group, Dr. Burik said.
“These students are the people who will make major contributions to society,” said Dr. Burik.
The academically gifted program is its second year. Students qualify for participation by means of their standardized test scores.