Units of study are based on concepts, process or skills which are extensions and enrichment of the regular education curriculum. It is assumed that if an activity would appropriate for most students at a grade level, it should not be offered as part of a gifted program. The activities should allow the students to interact with their intellectual peers and should push the limits of what they are able to accomplish independently.

Creative Problem Solving/Future Problem Solving
CPS is a multi-step process which encourages teamwork, clarity of thought and precise writing as students work in teams to solve real world problems. The process allows students to solve problems creatively, but within a well-defined structure. The steps of the process are: Research the topic, Identify challenges, Develop an underlying problem statement, Produce solutions, Choose criteria for evaluating solutions, Evaluate solutions, Develop an action plan. More information about the process and the International Future Problem Solving Program is available at: www.fpsp.org

Geography Bee
The National Geographic Society Geography Bee is a national competition. Students in grades 4-8 are eligible to participate. Ten finalists are identified in classroom rounds to compete in a school bee. The school winner completes a written exam to determine eligibility to participate in the State Bee. One state winner continues on to Washington, D.C. to compete in the national competition. www.nationalgeographic.com/geographybee

Great Books
Great Books is an interpretative reading program. Students respond to questions for which there is not a single answer. The challenge is to present evidence from the text to support an opinion. Great Books discussions are often paired with persuasive writing assignments, allowing students to further develop their ability to present and defend an argument.

Journalism
Students learn to write straight news, feature stories, opinion pieces and other features of a newspaper for a theme or audience of their choice.

Lego Robotics
Students explore mechanical concepts as they build machines from plans or invent their own. They learn to program the machines to complete designated tasks.

Knowledge Master Open Competition
Students compete as a team at the computer to answer 100 questions covering all aspects of the curriculum. Points are awarded for speed and accuracy. More detailed information and practice quizzes are available at: www.greatauk.com

Math/Logic
Students are challenged to use a variety of strategies to solve visual and number problems. They develop a greater sense of number through exploring non-traditional algorithms. Logic problems afford an excellent opportunity for students to develop deductive reasoning and other critical thinking skills.

Math Olympiads
Fifth and sixth graders participate in five Math Olympiads over the course of the school year. The problems challenge students to think creatively and to use the problem solving strategies they are learning at school. Prizes are awarded high-scoring students. Sample problems can be found at the Math Olympiad website: www.moems.org

Research
Topics used in past units include: Ancient Egypt, Greek Mythology, Millennium Milestones, Medical Mysteries, Medieval Times and Tales, Neuroscience. The topics selected offer many and varied opportunities for students to explore concepts of interest to them and to develop creative and critical thinking skills, research and independent study skills.

Scripts National Spelling Bee
Students in grades 4-8 are eligible to participate in this national competition. At the elementary level, a written exam is given in each classroom in January to identify the top six spellers in each grade. These students compete in a school bee in February. Five finalists continue on to represent the school at the district level. One elementary winner competes at the regional bee on the LCSC campus in March. The regional winner travels to Washington, D.C. to compete in the national competition in May. For more information about this competition: www.spellingbee.com