Collection of Materials for Highly Gifted Kids
by Sylvia Zinser
1 Introduction
To group academically highly gifted children with other academically highly gifted children will be difficult since the probability to find enough of these children within a school to fill a class or even a large cluster is very low. These children could visit a school for gifted children (usually their admission requires an IQ higher than 120 or 130) providing content based curriculum at advanced level1 . Within this school highly gifted children probably will need to be further accelerated. These schools often provide some enrichment for their students. Additionally the respective classroom teacher can give those children free access to further enrichment materials. This collection mainly presents such enrichment materials. Only using this collection will not be sufficient for highly gifted children. It is one way to fill the (short) time spans in which classmates might need to review content already mastered by the highly gifted child. Additionally this collection can be a guideline for the selection of new and eventually more complex materials for highly gifted children. The focus in this collection is on math for this is the favorite subject of many gifted children. Yet, some other interesting items will also be presented. This collection should help teachers to select new materials which are not listed here. A problem is that one can not just take normal materials for ’regular’ kids and give it to youn students.
Some children might not want to do work sheets and riddles. others might be more interested in problem solving, some maybe do not want to do any of these. Some highly gifted children might be just happy to sit in a corner of the classroom and read advanced books. Others might be willing to immerse into some self posed project, learning basic and not-so-basic skills by working on it. A teacher knowing the differences of his students can encourage such independent work, should supply books and resources (or access to such material), whenever possible and help the children to find needed information by themselves.
1.1 How to use
Using the presented materials requires a bit of trial and error. The teacher can pu">2 Examples for inappropriate pages
1. To help teachers evaluate material, three different pages which are not appropriate for highly gifted children are listed. The first page is not usable as a work sheet for them: All the problems on the page are covering the same topic (percentages), latest after the first few a highly gifted child might become bored. Additionally a “perfect score” is to be obtained. If a child mis-calculates a part of the respective problem and does not reach the perfect score, he or she might feel not successful and lose motivation to do similar problems. This probably does not happen after the first non-perfect score, but the book is full of pages indicating perfect scores. Rather the emphasis should be on the solved problems.
2. Highly gifted children might have to train their small motor skills, but copying should not be a way to do it. Rather let them write creatively and additionally use Dot-to-Dots and/or mazes.
3. The page is nice and colorful, yet all the problems on the page follow the same system: Each are four digit subtractions. Highly gifted children might get bored easily with those.
3 Math
The materials presented in this section mainly address analytical and logical thinkers, as described in Davis and Rimm’s book ‘Education of the Gifted and Talented’ on page 27 (Davis & RimmDavis & Rimm1997).
3.1 Supplemental worksheets and books with pages to copy
Math4today by Donna Pearson is a book with math problems which are supposed to be done a couple of minutes every day - originally to improve children’s math skills. It consists of sheets on which very different tasks are displayed together. A highly gifted child can is marked. Also the students can check boxes whether they solved the problems alone or needed help (VandeCreekVandeCreek2002). The book belongs to a series or work books covering also other grade levels.
(8) (6)
Problemoids Math Mentor by Bill Candliss had one advanced Math or Logic problem per page. Additionally hints to solve the challenge are given - the method to use this book would be to give the problem and give the hints only is necessary (McCandliss & WatsonMcCandliss & Watson1998). Children need use synthesis level thinking skills. Grades 4 and up.
(8)
Math in History by Jack Trammell is a collection of problems in which math is applied in historical context. Additional informations can be gathered via the internet, so that computer interests of the studenst also are addressed. The book aims at 5th to 12th graders and requires high level thinking skills up to the evaluation level (TrammellTrammell2001).
(8)
It’s Alive and Kicking is a book for all those students who are engrossed by gross facts. The mathematical problems go from calculating how many millimeters are bitten of fingernails to removing all rivets of the Eiffel Tower. The required thinking skills reach to the analysis level (Kleiman, Washington, & WashingtonKleiman et al.1996). Grades 3-6.
(8)
Number Mania by Edward Godwin is a collection which reminds of the numerical part of IQ-tests. Highly gifted children often are attracted by these logical puzzles and love to try themselves on them. Higher order thinking skills have to be applied, i.e. in the analysis and synthesis-level (GodwinGodwin2002). Grades 2-5.
(8)
Extreme Math is full of mathematical problems in the context of extreme sports. Highly gifted kids might like these math problems because of the connection to reality and because they often like informations about world records and extreme sports. The contextual units are each longer than one page but can be put into a math tray stapled together. To solve the problems higher thinking skills are required (at least analysis) (Tyler & TylerTyler & Tyler2004). Grade 2-5.
3.2 Fun books
On beyond a Million by David Schwartz is a book for all those children who in early age are fascinated by huge numbers (SchwartzSchwartz1999). Grade K+
Real World Math is a collection of facts and activities for elementary children. It is made up very colorfully and attractive to read. Some of the riddles require thinking at analysis level (LittlefieldLittlefield2001). Grade 1-4.
(6)
3.3 Ideas for teachers to use in lessons
In Thinking Beyond the Obvious teachers are encouraged to use logic games in math. It lists a number of fun problems which certainly will be enjoyed by highly gifted children (VriesVries1992).
5-Minute Math is a book containing problems aimed at 4th to 8th graders. Usually a mystery number has to be found. Highly gifted children often love mysteries and having one of these problems on the blackboard in the morning might brighten their day (Lee & MillerLee & Miller2000). Required is thinking in the synthesis level. Grade 2 and up.
(8)(6)
4 Language Arts
4.1 Supplemental worksheets and books with pages to copy
The Giant Book of Word Games is a collection of crossword puzzles, word searches and cryptograms. Children often love secret codes and puzzles and by solving them they improve their vocabulary. Many books like this are on the market in grocery and book stores, the teacher can copy pages after controlling for content. In this book the required thinking skills are as high as synthesis. As with all books containing IQ test like tasks children might come up with right but unlisted solutions, which should be accepted by the teacher. Teachers even could encourage children to find new, creative answers. (PressPress2003). Grades 4 and up.
The World Almanach for Kids Brain Teasers is a collection of word and logic games for young students (aimed at grade 1-2). These can be used with every child who can read. Many highly gifted young kids love almanachs so the title of this collection of riddles might already attract them, even if the puzzles do not show similarities to the almanach content. The thinking skills required reach up to the analysis level.(HouselHousel2003).
Absurdities is a collection of work sheets working with absurd ideas and sentences. New sentences have to be created, which are as strange as possible, puzzles have to be mastered by finding a word rhyming to the non-fitting word in the clue-sentence (WeilerWeiler2001). Children can use and train their creativity on these work sheets. Synthesis skills are necessary to make up new, even absurder sentences. For Grade 1-4.
4.2 Fun books
Vocabulary Cartoons Highly gifted kids often are thrilled by learning new words. Especially if these are complicated or strange. The stranger the better (at least sometimes). This book introduces many new words, helps memorizing them by giving sound-alikes (which is not always necessary with these kids, but they won’t mind and rather consider the alikes funny; it might touch their sense of humour.) and has a cartoon showing the respective word applied (BurchersBurchers1997). The thinking skills required are mainly lower level. The book can be used for recreational reading in free choice times.
4.3 Materials for teachers to use
Grammar Island introduces formal grammar analysis into reading texts for elementary kids. Highly (verbally) gifted children can learn these rules and apply them on new sentences throughout the school year, they might have fun searching for the grammatical components in new sentences. The thinking skills required for grammar analysis are as high as the evaluation level. This book does not contain work sheets. It is rather to be used as a text book with the students (ThompsonThompson2002).
5 Science
5.1 Supplemental worksheets and books with pages to copy
The Science Action Lab books contain informations and work sheets to various science topics like Environmental Science, Sound and Light, Water Science etc. Some books contain crafts and magic tricks (loved by many highly gifted kids) (ShevickShevick1998c; ShevickShevick1998b; ShevickShevick1998d; ShevickShevick1998a; ShevickShevick2000). The listed tasks in these books require higher level thinking including evaluating. For grades 1-5.
5.2 Materials for teachers to use
Weather, aimed at Grades 1-3 is a collection of information sheets and crafts for younger children (Prior, Smith, & WagnerPrior et al.2000). Grade PreK-2, evtl. adult help required with some crafts.
Physical Science: These are activity suggestions (including interdisciplinary) for teachers which they can do with the class (McAlpine, Weincek, Jeweler, & FinkbinderMcAlpine et al.2003). In this book an introduction into the scientific method compared with the creative problem solving method is presented, additionally an overview about Bloom’s taxonomy. Grade 1-9.
5.3 Projects
Electricity City is a problem based, interdisciplinary learning unit for gifted children (Tassel-BaskaTassel-Baska1997) The advantage of using a unit like this is, that all children, gifted, highly gifted, even profoundly gifted can work on it according to their abilities. This book is part of a series edited by the Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary. Other similar units can be found at http://www.kendallhunt.com/.
6 Surprise tray
Books with Mazes like (Locke & LockeLocke & Locke2003) improve the small motor skills of children in a way they might like. This is especially important, because the small motor skills of highly gifted children often are age appropriate which means they are relatively weak compared to their cognitive abilities. Grade 1+ depending on small motor skills. Some mazes probably only can be solved by fourthgraders and older students. (8)(6) 2cm
Addressing the asynchrony between the cognitive and the physical development of highly gifted children which is described in ‘Counseling the Gifted and Talented’ by Linda Silverman (SilvermanSilverman2000) is important, because these children may suffer from not being able to use their hands according to their imagination which is especially depressing for perfectionists, and because schools might slow them down academically to give them time to train their motor skills. This proceeding will hurt highly gifted children because they are then forced to focus on their weaknesses, not on their strengths. This can result in a low self-esteem and in resignation, unwillingness to do academic work at all.
Space exploration Dot-to-Dot is a collection of space facts in combination with dot-to-dot pages. This is good for training the small motor skills of younger children (also see explanation to the mazes). Grade 1-3. (Kimble & KimbleKimble & Kimble2002).
1-25 Dot-to-Dot (HoffmanHoffman2001) contains a collection of dot-to-dot pictures for very young children to train their small motor skills (also see explanation to the mazes).
Ruth Heller’s Designs for Coloring are a collection of high quality coloring pictures. Usually gifted children - and highly gifted even more - hate coloring, because it is not demanding their intellectual abilities. These books contain geometrical patterns which seems to be more attractive for these children, according to the author’s experience (HellerHeller1992; HellerHeller2000). Additionally these patterns (as well as the more complicated mazes) could help the teacher to recognize undiagnose vision problems and improve small motor skills (also see explanation to the mazes).
In Solving Logic Mysteries problems are given in which some information is provided and the rest must be deducted. The book is written for 3rd to 5th graders and contains three different levels of difficulty. For the type of the problems is in each one the same the teacher should only put a few of these work sheets onto the surprise tray. The solution of these puzzles requires at least analysis level thinking (StarkStark2003). (6)
The Giant Book of Mensa Puzzles is a collection of IQ-test like logic puzzles in three levels requiring analysis and synthesis level thinking (AllenAllen2002).
Logico is a learning toy for small children (preK and up). It comes with different pads, the children have to move colored circles to the right/fitting answer to a problem. Using the sheet the teacher can also make up new problem sets for his/her students which might exceed the company given levels of difficulty.
7 Books/Literature
This is a small number of books which should not miss in any classroom in which highly gifted children are taught. They can be read at homeroom time ore maybe signed out.
The Number Devil by Enzensberger is a book about math. Originally written for twelve year olds even four year old highly gifted children understand a lot. It is about a boy who hates math (what he understands math is but in reality is arithmetic) who is guided in his dreams towards real mathematics (EnzensbergerEnzensberger2000)
I can’t said the ant is a funny booklet for small children whose perfectionism is in their way to achieve. The “I can’t” is humorously resolved into a “just try” (CameronCameron1961), a good way for teachers to deal with the ’I can’t’-statement of little perfectionists in their classroom. PreK - 1st grade.
A Shel Silverstein Poem collection needs to be in each classroom with highly gifted children. They see the humor in these poems from early on and enjoy this poetry.
Sophie’s World by Gaarder is a philosophy course starting from the Pre-Socratics to modern times. It also is about existential questions like ”are we real or existing at all”. It is not especially for gifted children, but highly gifted children can read it as early as in the age of eight. (For the main characters in the book are 15 years old and adults, this seems to be the goal audience)
A Wrinkle in Time by M. L’Engle is a science fiction addressing social emotional needs of gifted children. The main characters are children (the youngest six, the oldest teenage) who are exceptionally smart. Besides of the adventure issues like being bullied and not being understood are addressed. The author wrote several other books aimed at gifted children.
8 Board games
The board games can be used in homeroom time or at class parties as well as for recommendations to the families of the highly gifted child. With games requiring a lot of strategic thinking even introverts can be motivated to socially interact while playing.
In Clue a crook has to be identified. Individual, the whereabouts of the deed and the weapon have to be identified. This is done by telling suspicions for these three parameters in turn. Using logic, then the culprit can be found. Sensible children might not want to play it, for a murderer is involved (there is a ”harmless” Clue Junior game on the market). However, the murder scene is not described in detail. Children need to be able to write for this game.
Rush hour is a puzzle game for one person which has to try to maneuver a car out of a jammed parking lot. The junior version is already usable by four year olds. Using it in a school environment probably will lead to several children watching and commenting the playing child.
The Settlers of Catan is a very long, very tedious game using strategy and communication skills. The goal is to colonialize an island by building cities and streets. For this one needs raw materials which often must be traded with other players. Grades 3 and up.
Cranium Cadoo is a game in which children have to creatively explain items to the other players. This involves for example drawing and using clay. Playing this game might be a motivation to use small motor skills. Grades 1 and up (CraniumCranium2002).
Inappropriate games for highly gifted children which can be found at many schools are Candyland or Game of Life. Winning is only due to luck in rolling the dice.
9 Computer games
Zoombinis are little creatures who need a good portion of logic to reach their destination. Children can play this by trial and error, but will not succeed into the higher levels. Only using sound logic will help their zoombinis. The levels are going towards quite complicated problems so that even highly gifted children can have fun for a long time. The author watched several times children clustering behind the computer and playing together when this game was running. The suggested use for this game would be for example at homeroom time (zoom2001zoom20012001; zoom2001bzoom2001b2001; zoom2002zoom20022002). (6)(8)
10 Others
The Gifted children Survival guide is a good read for elementary children who want to know more about themselves and their special feature. Especially highly gifted kids often have trouble to connect with their not-so-gifted classmates and feel different and alone (Espeland, Molnar, & GalbraithEspeland et al.1998).
The Gifted children Survival guide - teen handbook is a good read for older children who want to know more about themselves and their special feature(s). Especially highly gifted kids often have trouble to connect with their not-so-gifted classmates and feel different and alone (Delisle, Espeland, & GalbraithDelisle et al.1996).
Psychology for kids and Psychology for Kids II are collections of psychological tests a child can do himself/herself or with the classmates, family etc. It can increase awareness of personality features and compatibility (Kincher, Bach, & EspelandKincher et al.1995; Kincher & EspelandKincher & Espeland1998)
Feelings by Aliki is a comic book explaining different feelings. The feelings of highly gifted children can be so intense that they do not understand themselves anymore This book can help them to express what they feel (AlikiAliki1984). Grades PreK and up.
11 Web site collection for various age groups
At the author’s web page for gifted and highly gifted children
http://zinser.no-ip.info/ szinser/gifted/acadlinks.htmlx many links are listed which teachers can use for their students.
Especially the DHMO (Social Studies, Di-Hydro-Mon-Oxide) page is a very good example for using the internet as resource and learning critical analysis of material. These pages summarize the dangers of a chemical substance Di-Hydro-Mon-Oxide, for example display research results about this substance in connection with cancer (the substance is found in about any form of cancer). The substance with the complicated name is water, but the display makes it seem to be one of the most dangerous poisons.
In the math subsection the ’totally tesselated’ page is a nice collection of tesselation examples and geometrical explanations. It contains pure geometric tesselations as well as application in the fine arts.
In the mixed subsection ’figure this’ is a resource for challenge problems. The problems would be even more appropriate for highly gifted children if the hints were hidden ond only displayed at request.
In the science department the ’science songs’ are the favorite of the author’s youngest son (4). The older boys (6,8) prefer Walter Fendt’s physics pages and try physics experiments in online simulations. Besides, these pages come in lots of different languages (interested children might explore the translations of the physics problems)
Exploring other languages including the sign language is also possible with help of the language(s) links.
As usual with web pages containing free information many advertisements can be found in most of the links. Teachers should check each page they allow the students to go to directly before use, because these advertisements can change and can turn out to be not appropriate for the (often highly sensitive) students.
References
[AlikiAliki1984]Aliki. (1984). Feelings. Greenwillow Books.
[AllenAllen2002]Allen, R. (2002). The Giant Book of Mensa Puzzles. New York: Barnes and Noble, Inc.
[Blum, Vecchione, Smith, Ryan, & Hart-DavisBlum et al..1998]Blum, R., Vecchione, G., Smith, K., Ryan, S., & Hart-Davis, A. (1998). Giant book of math fun. New York: Sterling Publishing Company Inc.
[BurchersBurchers1997]Burchers, S. (1997). Vocabulary Cartoons. Punta Gorda, Florida: New Monic Books.
[CameronCameron1961]Cameron, P. (1961). I can’t said the ant. New York: Scholastic, Inc.
[CraniumCranium2002]Cranium. (2002). Cadoo. Seattle, Washington: Cranium, Inc.
[Davis & RimmDavis & Rimm1997]Davis, G. A., & Rimm, S. B. (1997). Education of the Gifted and Talented. Boston, London, Toronto: Allyn and Bacon.
[Delisle, Espeland, & GalbraithDelisle et al..1996]Delisle, J. R., Espeland, P., & Galbraith, J. M. (1996). The Gifted Kids’ Survival Guide - an Teen Handbook. Free Spirit Publishing.
[EnzensbergerEnzensberger2000]Enzensberger, H. M. (2000). The Number Devil. Henry Holt and Company Inc.
[Espeland, Molnar, & GalbraithEspeland et al..1998]Espeland, P., Molnar, A., & Galbraith, J. (1998). The Gifted Kids’ Survival Guide 10 and under. Free Spirit Publishing.
[GodwinGodwin2002]Godwin, E. X. (2002). Number Mania. New York: Sterling Publishing Company.
[HellerHeller1992]Heller, R. (1992). Optical Art. New York: Grosset and Dunlap, Inc.
[HellerHeller2000]Heller, R. (2000). Prisms. New York: Grosset and Dunlap, Inc.
[HoffmanHoffman2001]Hoffman, J. (2001). 1-25 Dot-to-Dot. Grand Haven, Michigan: School Zone Publishing Company.
[HouselHousel2003]Housel, D. J. (2003). World Almanach for Kids Brain Teasers. Westminster, California: Teacher Created Materials, Inc.
[zoom2002zoom20022002]Island Odyssey. (2002). Novato, California: Riverdeep, Inc.
[Kimble & KimbleKimble & Kimble2002]Kimble, E., & Kimble, L. (2002). Space Exploration Dor-to-Dot. New York: Sterling Publishing.
[Kincher, Bach, & EspelandKincher et al..1995]Kincher, J., Bach, J. S., & Espeland, P. (1995). Psychology for Kids. Free Spirit Publishing.
[Kincher & EspelandKincher & Espeland1998]Kincher, J., & Espeland, P. (1998). Psychology for Kids II. Free Spirit Publishing.
[Kleiman, Washington, & WashingtonKleiman et al..1996]Kleiman, A., Washington, D., & Washington, M. F. (1996). It’s Alive and Kicking. Waco, Texas: Prufrock Press Inc.
[Lee & MillerLee & Miller2000]Lee, M., & Miller, M. (2000). 5-Minute Math Problem of the Day. New York: Scholastic.
[LittlefieldLittlefield2001]Littlefield, C. A. (2001). Real World Math for Hands-on Fun. Charlotte, Vermont: Williamson Publishing Inc.
[Locke & LockeLocke & Locke2003]Locke, N., & Locke, M. (2003). Big Book of Mazes. New York: Mud Puddle Inc.
[zoom2001zoom20012001]Logical Journey. (2001). Novato, California: Riverdeep, Inc.
[McAlpine, Weincek, Jeweler, & FinkbinderMcAlpine et al..2003]McAlpine, J., Weincek, B., Jeweler, S., & Finkbinder, M. (2003). Investigating Physical Science. Hawthorne, New Jersey: Educational Impressions.
[McCandliss & WatsonMcCandliss & Watson1998]McCandliss, B., & Watson, A. (1998). Problemoids, Grade 6. Unionville, New York: Royal Fireworks Press.
[zoom2001bzoom2001b2001]Mountain Rescue. (2001). Novato, California: Riverdeep, Inc.
[PearsonPearson1998]Pearson, D. (1998). Math4today, Grades 4-5. Grand Rapids, Michigan: McGraw-Hill Children’s Publishing.
[PressPress2003]Press, P. (2003). Puzzler’s Giant Book of Word Games. Norwalk, Connecticut: Penny Press, Inc.
[Prior, Smith, & WagnerPrior et al..2000]Prior, J., Smith, V., & Wagner, L. (2000). Weather. Greensboro, North Carolina: The Education Center, Inc.
[SchwartzSchwartz1999]Schwartz, D. M. (1999). On Beyond a Million. New York: Scholastic Inc.
[ShevickShevick1998a]Shevick, E. (1998a). Environment. Carthage, Illinois: Teaching and Learning Company, Inc.
[ShevickShevick1998b]Shevick, E. (1998b). Science Fun. Carthage, Illinois: Teaching and Learning Company, Inc.
[ShevickShevick1998c]Shevick, E. (1998c). Science Puzzlers. Carthage, Illinois: Teaching and Learning Company, Inc.
[ShevickShevick1998d]Shevick, E. (1998d). Water Science. Carthage, Illinois: Teaching and Learning Company, Inc.
[ShevickShevick2000]Shevick, E. (2000). Sound and Light. Carthage, Illinois: Teaching and Learning Company, Inc.
[SilvermanSilverman2000]Silverman, L. K. (2000). Counseling the Gifted and Talented. Denver: Love Publishing Company.
[StarkStark2003]Stark, R. (2003). Solving Logic Mysteries. Hawthorne, New Jersey: Educational Impressions, Inc.
[Tassel-BaskaTassel-Baska1997]Tassel-Baska, J. V. (1997). Electricity City - A Problem Based Unit. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
[ThompsonThompson2002]Thompson, M. C. (2002). Grammar Island. Unionville, New York: Royal Fireworks Publishing Company Inc.
[TrammellTrammell2001]Trammell, J. (2001). Math in History. Marion, Illinois: Pieces of Learning.
[Tyler & TylerTyler & Tyler2004]Tyler, K., & Tyler, M. W. (2004). Extreme Math. Waco, Texas: Prufrock Press Inc.
[VandeCreekVandeCreek2002]VandeCreek, B. (2002). Math Rules! Marion, Illinois: Pieces of Learning.
[VriesVries1992]Vries, M. D. (1992). thinking beyond the obvious boundaries in mathematics: an exploration of joyous discovery. Gifted Education International, 8(3).
[WeilerWeiler2001]Weiler, E. (2001). Absurdities. Scottsdale, Arizona: Remedia Publications, Inc.
1If the school provides thematic curriculum the highly gifted student might not need supplemental material, because he/she should have the chance to explore the thematic units in depth.
