Cassidy, a talented artist in my third-grade classroom, struggled with classroom assignments. It's not that she wasn't capable of high-level work, but tasks such as spelling tests, arithmetic practice, and test preparation worksheets were making for a very unhappy child. Cassidy was consistently eager to participate in learning activities that had…

One of the biggest challenges on the horizon in education is an increased emphasis on meeting the needs of exceptional students. Historically, we have done a more than adequate job of addressing the needs of students with physical and cognitive challenges, but those students who excel are often left to their own devices (Tomlinson, 1999;…

This article discusses the structuring of mathematics to challenge the mathematically gifted elementary student. Theoretical background examines the nature of the learning task and the role of the teacher. An example is given of three related tasks that scaffold the learning experience and help the student extend his/her mathematical thinking…

This article describes a learning activity, the Texas History Walk, in which third- and seventh-grade gifted students learn about life in the 1870s on the Texas frontier. The younger students interact with the actors, seventh graders role-playing characters of the 1870s. Benefits of the activity include its interdisciplinary nature, the cross-age…

This article describes Camp Invention, a national creativity day camp that integrates science, math, social studies, and the arts. The one week camp for children entering grades 2-6 attracts many academically gifted children because of its hands-on curriculum. The camp's curriculum and activities are discussed. (Contains two references.) (CR)

Describes a unit of study for gifted fifth graders that connects architecture to the content areas of history, mathematics, and science. Emphasis was on problem solving of real-world problems as recommended in major reports on mathematics instruction. The unit also used technology in innovative ways, including computer-drawn images and digital…

Describes application of Renzulli's School Enrichment Model in one Connecticut elementary school. The program uses enrichment clusters in which nongraded groups of students come together to pursue common interests during designated time blocks. Program development and implementation, cluster sharing, teacher reactions, and parent/student reactions…

Describes "Reaching for the Stars," a program which develops teaming and mentoring skills in senior physics students. Phase 1 requires student pairs to design a rocket; Phase 2 pairs seniors with gifted second graders who build the rocket from written instructions; and in Phase 3, pairs of seniors create a children's storybook explaining one of…

Describes an instructional unit for gifted students (ages 9 to 13) intended to help students understand and better balance efforts to meet the five basic human needs (physiological, belonging, power, freedom, and fun) postulated by William Glasser's control theory. Activities for each of the five units are outlined. (DB)

Describes a three-week summer course on humor for gifted high school students. Outlines 10 reasons for studying humor and describes the development of the course and activities during each of the three weeks. (DB)

Describes a four-level system for planning and implementing learning centers for gifted early-childhood classrooms. The levels are: teacher-planned/teacher-directed, teacher-planned/student-directed, student-planned/teacher-directed, and student-planned/student-directed. The philosophical, curricular, and instructional foundations for the…

Offers a model which relates student learning by gifted students to the use of technology. Four learning modes are identified: acquirer of information, retriever of information, constructor of information, and presenter of information. Provides examples of appropriate technology for each mode, as well as integration of learning modes and…

Describes how a group of gifted primary-school children in New Zealand explored the Internet in a workshop project organized around solving the mystery of what happened to the Titanic. Insets include the student "contract," a listing of Web sites, and the evaluation instrument. (DB)

Discusses how cooperative learning can teach gifted elementary students about being part of a cohesive team that works toward a common goal. Describes how to set up cooperative learning groups and sample cooperative learning activities, such as "crossing the river," cooperative maps, and body systems posters. (CR)

This article describes an interdisciplinary classroom project in which ninth graders simulate a "World Council on Genetic Technology." Students in small groups take on the persona and interests of individuals from specific countries in the group effort to develop a covenant for regulating the use of biotechnology. The benefits of having gifted…