Academics at Discover U​

Critical Thinker

Curious

Communicate

Create

Collaborate

Empowered

Hands-On Learning: Learning by Doing

Think back to your schooling. What do you remember the most? Most likely you remember the projects you created with your own two hands, work that was fun, what you were most proud of and your experiences or trips. It's unlikely you remember the worksheets you completed, the tests you took or class lectures. This is because most of us are kinesthetic learners, people that learn by doing. A hands-on approach to learning allows students to experience what they are learning and to retain information at a higher level.  Through hands-on learning and project based learning our student become curious, critical thinkers, skilled communicators, creative, collaborative and empowered. 

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"WHEN STUDENTS ARE GIVEN THE ABILITY TO LEARN IN A PRACTICAL HANDS-ON ENVIRONMENT, THEY ARE OFTEN ENGAGED, STIMULATED AND WANT TO LEARN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THE STUDENT'S APPETITE FOR LEARNING INCREASES AND THEY ARE MORE WILLING TO LISTEN AND PAY ATTENTION IF THEY HAVE A MORE PRACTICAL OR LIFE LIKE TASK TO COMPLETE."

English Language Arts

     Our reading and writing instruction is 100% aligned to the Arizona College and Career Readiness Standards. Students receive 90 minutes of reading instruction a day.
     Students receive 30 minutes of whole group instruction each day. During this time the class learns a specific skill together that is modeled for them and they are given time to practice collaboratively. 
     During the following 60 minutes students work towards their own independent reading goals through small group instruction and Daily 5.
     Teachers use Fountas and Pinnell's Guided Reading program during small group instruction to meet students where they are and lead them forward with intention and precision. This ensures that all of our students make growth as readers and receive instruction that matches their individual learning goals. 
     While the teacher is working with small groups, students are working towards their individual reading goals through Daily 5. Daily 5 provides authentic reading and writing opportunities:

• Read to Self,
• Work on Writing,
• Read to Someone,
• Listen to Reading, and
• Word Work.

    

"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot." -Stephen King

     Our writing instruction is 100% aligned to Arizona College and Career Readiness Standards. Students receive 60 minutes of daily writing instruction focused on narrative, informational and opinion writing. Students are guided through the writing process using thinking maps to organize their thoughts. ​

STUDENTS DURING DAILY 5

FOUNTAS & PINNELL GUIDED READING

Students working on writing

Mathematics

     Our mathematics instruction is 100% aligned to the Arizona College and Career Readiness Standards. Our teachers utilize Envisions Common Core, EngageNY and TenMarks to support mathematics instruction. Students receive 90 minutes of mathematics instruction a day. 
     Students receive 30 minutes of whole group instruction each day. During this time the class learns a specific skill together that is modeled for them and they are given time to practice collaboratively. 
     During the following 60 minutes students engage in hands-on practice where students solve math problems with manipulatives, solve real-world math tasks, play math games and utilize technology to practice at their level and receive tutorial videos to support them. Teachers work with small groups to guide and support learners through math tasks.
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Project Based Learning: Science & Social Studies

Our teachers utilize DefinedStem to engage our students with real world project based learning for science and social studies. Project Based Learning allows students to gain knowledge and skills in multiple subject areas through investigation and responding to real world complex problems and/or challenges. Students also get the opportunity to explore many careers in order to pique their interest for their future. Below are some examples of projects that were done during the 2017-2018 school year. 

• PreK Veterinarians: A veterinarian is a doctor for animals. Veterinarians are also called vets. A zoo vet is a veterinarian that has the special job of taking care of the animals that live at a zoo. Animals that live at the zoo come from all over the world. Zoo vets need to know a lot about what these animals eat and what they need in order to live at the zoo. Visiting animals at the zoo helps us learn more about different kinds of animals.
• Kindergarten Biologists: A region is an area on the earth that has a certain type of land and climate. The weather of a region can affect the animals that live in that region. The region that you live in has many people visit the area. You will be working with a team of biologists. As a biologist, you will study how living things grow. You and your team of biologists have been asked to create an informational book that will be used to teach these visitors about the weather and animal behavior in that region. It will be placed at the visitor centers throughout the region.
• First Grade Horticulturalists: You and your friends are horticulturalists who own a greenhouse. In a greenhouse, you can grow plants indoors all year long. Your group starts planting seeds in your greenhouses and provides young plants, or seedlings, to local farmers to plant in their fields. You also have a small store where you sell potted plants, books on how to grow things, and other items related to gardening. You have decided that you want to set up a small educational area so children who visit your greenhouse can learn about plants and how they grow.
• Second & Third Grade Geologists: Your task is to learn more about erosion and how it can shape our Earth. In particular, you will be studying the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The Grand Canyon was carved out by the erosion from the Colorado River slowly over a period of six million years. The Grand Canyon is thought to be one of the most remarkable natural wonders in the world.
• Fourth Grade Chefs: You have just been hired by a Food Network star to find a location for a new restaurant. You will need to research the agriculture of the region and design a gourmet menu that will reflect the native agriculture. It is critical that your menu creations are reflective of the native agriculture. In addition, your recipes should be appealing to the target audience of the region. You will have to consider the cost and pricing of your local resources and any items that you may need to import.
• Fifth and Sixth Grade Energy Management Consultants: People are now having concerns about the way humans affect the environment. It is becoming very important to use energy efficient and sustainable practices whenever possible. To be more energy efficient means to figure out how to make sure that everyday activities use less energy. To be more sustainable means to find ways to use fewer natural resources and to recycle things. Some things your class may want to consider might include energy efficient practices in each classroom and throughout the school. Is your school efficient with the use of water? Does the school landscape help to save energy and water? How can the school help reduce its heat island effect? Does the school recycle, and, if so, how successful is it?

We Are Explorers and We Have FUN!