DURHAM

The labs found here were originally created by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) as a remote learning resource for advanced learners across the state.

Durham Public Schools Department of Advanced Academics has taken NCDPI’s original labs and has restructured them so that they are housed in one location and can be easily and efficiently by content area and grade band, as well as the overarching concept.

• Eight content areas: ELA, Field Studies, Logic Puzzles, Math, Mindfulness, Science, Social Studies, and Research Exploration

• Six different grade bands: K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 and 10-12

• Fifteen different overarching concepts: Adaptation, Balance, Conflict, Creativity, Diversity, Energy, Growth, Identity, Interactions, Interdependence, Movement, Perspective, Structure, Systems and Time

Each lab for a content area can be viewed at a glance for the grade band selected. From there, each lab is linked to a more detailed, scaffolded view. There are also virtual resources from NCDPI, as well as an excel sheet of how the NCSCOS standards align to the labs (by which labs can be filtered/sorted by standard, as well as the overarching concept).

The purpose of this site is to help teachers extend, accelerate and/or enrich their students’ learning, using the labs as a starting block.

Teachers can do this in a variety of ways, such as:

• Using the labs as an introductory activity, or "hook" at the beginning of a unit

• Using the labs as a final project as the culmination of a unit of study

• Assigning individual labs to students, differentiating by student need and interest

• Utilizing mindfulness, logic, field studies and research exploration activities for Wellness Wednesdays and Flexible Fridays

• Creating choice boards or "hyperdocs" using the different labs

In addition to the labs, teachers can utilize the Additional Remote Learning Resources, listed menu to the left. These resources are organized by grade band (K-5, 6-8 and 9-12) and give direct links to other remote learning resources from NCDPI that might be useful to teachers and interesting to students in an effort to extend, accelerate, and enrich their learning.

Durham Public Schools Department of Advanced Academics plans to continue updating this site, adding additional enrichment extensions for students and teachers to take their learning further and deeper.