COSMOS CENTER

The Cosmos Center provides a program for academically gifted students in a flexible and individualized environment that promotes the growth of creative and critical thinking skills. It encourages initiative in pursuing knowledge and exploring ideas, facilitates growth in self-awareness and decision making, cultivates leadership, stimulates research skills, develops problem-solving techniques, and fosters growth in verbal and written communication. The curriculum is purposeful, motivating and dynamic, allowing the learner freedom to experience a wide range of approaches to learning and doing.

Fourth and fifth graders from Howard Drive Elementary and Pinecrest Elementary attend the program on Tuesdays and Fridays.  Fourth and fifth graders from Coral Reef Elementary and Palmetto Elementary attend on Mondays and Thursdays.

Students attend four classes from five areas (mathematics, language arts, science, social studies and technology) each day they are at the Center. These classes run for 8 consecutive, 45-minute, sessions during which a unit of study is completed. The instructional objectives for these classes are based on Miami Dade County Goals for Gifted Education. Additionally, students participate daily in a year-long Independent Investigation project designed to produce a contribution of worth.

During first semester, students exercise their creative talents by designing and creating entries for the Miami Dade County Fair and Exposition.  Soft sculpture batiks, masks, dream catchers, mosaics, and digital photography are just a few of the activities from which they can choose.  During second semester, the focus is on the production of an original play, written by Center students, complete with set and costume design, music, dance and drama.