Legend Learning in Cupertino

Community Awareness is a summer program designed for middle school students. All the academic work and activities for each week will focus on a specific topic and essential guiding question designed to foster a sense of community awareness and altruism. They provide opportunities for self-discovery and improvement in a particular academic area with the goal of empowering program participants to take a future leadership role. The program combines an academic component with leadership training, delivered through a series of hands-on and projects based activities.

Though the topics and guiding questions vary from week to week, every unit will follow the same basic structure. Students will begin each week by becoming familiar with that week’s topic in the traditional academic setting–the classroom. Then students will have the opportunity to make a personal connection with what they have been learning about by going on field trips and listening to and asking questions of guest speakers. Thirdly, students will be asked to write a final essay in which they reflect on what they have learned throughout the course of the week along with answering that week’s essential question in a well-written and persuasive manner. Lastly, students will document that week’s experiences on a website.

A: Why be a part of Career Exploration Week?

It’s never too early to start thinking about future career options. Kids often ask questions like “why do we have to learn math?” They will find out answers to these and many other questions through interactions with people in a wide variety of fields.

Essential Question: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Class Overview: Students will learn about a variety of different career options through reading, independent research, and interacting with a wide variety of career professionals. Specifically, students will find out what it takes in terms of education, experience, and work ethic to succeed in different fields. Because of the fact that Legend is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, a particular emphasis will be placed on high-tech jobs. Students will document their interactions with career professionals on a website they will create. Lastly, they will explain what career they are favoring and why in a final essay.

B: Why be a part of Climate Change Week?

Two things are true about global climate change: It is a serious problem and we all do are part to contribute to it. Students who participate in Climate Change Week will not simply learn about the causes of climate change, but more importantly will learn what leaders in business and government are trying to do about it. The goal is to gain awareness about the issue along with fostering the will to act.

Essential Question: What can you do to reduce your carbon footprint?

Class Overview: Students study the issue of climate change and the role carbon emission play in contributing to it. Students will learn about the different ways that local government, local businesses, and individual citizens are trying to reduce their carbon footprint. Students will document their interactions with these people on a website they will create. Also, students will be asked to calculate their own carbon footprint and consider actions they could take to reduce it. Finally, they will reflect on their experiences and what they have learned in a final essay.

C: Why be a part of Art Appreciation Week?

Art exists to inspire passion, creativity, and critical thinking. It also plays an important role in the development of intelligence. The goal-besides providing students with a basic understanding of different artistic categories-is to foster these qualities in all the students who participate in Art Appreciation Week.

Essential Question: Which artist had the greatest impact on his or her art genre?

Class Overview: Students learn about various artistic movements and learn how to critically examine a wide variety of art works. They then bring their newfound knowledge and appreciation of art with them to various bay area art museums where they get a chance to see great works of art up close. Finally, they will get a chance to document that week’s experience on a website along with attempting to answer the essential question in a final essay.

D: Why be a part of Healthy Living Week?

Childhood obesity is an epidemic in our country. Some are concerned that for the first the time in our nation’s history, kids will have a shorter life span than their parents. Because of this, it is imperative that all kids improve their eating and exercise habits. Healthy Living Week will help students become more familiar with the issue along with helping to foster better living habits.

Essential Question: What can be done to combat the problem of childhood obesity? How can we get kids to eat healthier and play outside more?

Class Overview: Students will study the issue of childhood obesity through reading about it, researching, and discussing what it means to live a healthy lifestyle. Students are challenged not to watch TV for a whole week and eat better. Specifically, students are required to sign a contract stating that they will refrain from watching TV for the entire week and will keep their daily intake of calories and fatty foods below a certain threshold. Students will also participate in daily organized athletic activities at Legend. Final, students will reflect on their experience and attempt to answer the essential question by writing a final essay.

Program Schedule

	6/20 – 6/24	6/27 – 7/1	7/4 – 7/8	7/11 – 7/15	7/18 – 7/22	7/25 – 7/29	8/1 – 8/5	8/8 – 8/12
9:00-12:00	Topic A	Topic B	Topic C	Topic D	Topic A	Topic B	Topic C	Topic D