About LEAP
LEAP is a program at CCSD 180 that highlights the gifted and advanced students in our district. LEAP is a Learning Enrichment Activities Program that has advanced learning activities in reading, writing, math, and science. There is a series of investigative units centered on real world application of skills with adult professionals from a variety of fields. Students are selected annually for participation in LEAP on teacher recommendations. These students then take tests of their verbal and quantitative skills. LEAP is instructed by Mrs. Kinsman.

Contact info for Mrs. Kinsman
Questions, comments, or concerns?
Phone Number-(630)734-6661 Email Address-mkinsman@ccsd180.org

The Units
The units that Mrs. Kinsman chooses are chosen on the students strengths. Two grade levels are in a unit and there are 2 or 3 units a year. Listed below are the units from Fall 2009, grades 3-8.

LEAP Units
1. Missing Persons (3/4)
2. Athenian Secret (3/4)
3. Chasing Vermeer (5/6)
4. Mazes (5/6)
5. Mystery Disease (7/8)
6. Web page design (7/8)

Missing Persons

Students read a novel of their choice and prepared a " Missing Persons Report" as well as clues to the identity of a character from the book. By doing this, they were introduced to analyzing literary elements in works of fiction including plot, setting, mood, point of view, and figurative language. unit participants then solved one anothers Clues to identify the "missing persons". A field trip to see the movie "A Christmas Carol" provided a common reference for instructional examples of literary elements.
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Athenian Secret

Teams solved logic and math problems in a competition set in ancient Athens. Their ultamate goal was to solve the secret formula (the Pythagorean Theorem) and earn the title of Master Mathematician. This unit also included an introduction to ancient Greek mathematicians, philosophers, and mythology. A field trip to see "MatheMagic", an interactive performance using magic to illustrate mathematical concepts and including reference to key discoveries in mathematics such as the Pythagorean Theorem was included.
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Chasing Vermeer

Students learned about the mystery as a literary genre by reading and analyzing Chasing Vermeer, the story of an art theft set in Chicago. The focus on analytical thinking was further developed through decifering codes and solving puzzles integrated throughout the tale. The novel raised questions regarding the purpose and defining features of art and introduced the works and career of the Dutch artist Jan Vermeer. A field trip to the Art Institute of Chicago allowed students to examine the evolution af the works of other renowned artists and to conduct an art scavenger hunt similar to one described in the book. Return to Table of Contents

Mazes

Participants studied the properties of specific shapes and angles in this geometry unit. They used straight edges, protracters, and compasses to understand the properties of specific shapes and angles. This knowledge was then applied to the task of creating mazes. The unit included a field trip to see "MathMagic", an interactive performance using magic to illustrate mathematical concepts including measurement and geometry.
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Mystery Disease

This was an interdisciplinary problem based learning unit combining science, social studies, math, research, group collaboration, and communication skills. Students took on the role of public health officials to attempt to stop the spread of a mysterious disease. They examined evidece, made recommendations to save the lives of people who had contracted the disease, determined the most probable source of infection, and suggested steps to prevent a recurrence of a similar event. Unit participants also taught younger student about food borne illnesses and their prevention. A panel of medical professionals served as a board of review for student presentations of their findings and recommendations.
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Web page Design

Students designed a LEAP web page for the CCSD 180 web site. This unit was an introduction to computer programming because the web page was created using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) rather than web page design software. Participants experimented with fonts, lists, tables, images, links to other websites and within a site, and the use of Photo Shop software. The school district's Technology Director served as a consultant on this project.
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Links to other gifted websites

Hoages gifted

IAGC

NAGC

Webpage design by

Marissa Dupont,

Megan White,

Dana Agema,

Daniel Warpecha,

and Mylake Green.

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