by student writer Connor Dunphy
Twice a year Dogwood’s third through fifth grade gifted students do a project called Envision. This project is different for all ages. For example, 3rd graders do a pet parade where they do research on their favorite pet in the first semester, and in the second semester they do a curiosity expedition where they research a topic they are curious about. First, fourth graders do a knowledge quest where they get to research a topic of interest they want more knowledge about, and they also do a traditional science fair project second. First semester, fifth graders do a travel project where they plan a trip, and second semester they do a career project where they research a career.
At the end of the year the gifted kids get to decide whether they want to do their project that they made at the beginning of the year or the project that they did at the end of the year to do at the Expo, when gifted students show guests their project. This year students went to Houston Middle School and set up their projects in the school gym. This year’s Expo was on April 11. Dogwood students joined students from Riverdale, Forest Hill, and Farmington in displaying their hard work. More than 300 guests came to the Expo to celebrate the learning and explore the projects.
"This dynamic program differentiates learning and truly pushes our students to set ambitious goals for their future," said Dogwood gifted teacher Karen Cunningham. Cunningham and gifted teacher Elizabeth Stuart organized the Expo for Dogwood.
“The Envision project can be hard,” fourth grader Adelyn Winer said. “Stay ahead and never wait until the last minute to do something because it never works.”
Envision projects may be hard for many students, but in the long run students get many skills that will help them later on in life.