Grades 3-5
A place for ideas and inspiration for our gifted and advanced learners.
If you have an idea to share, please email it to Kari Clements, kclements@telluride.k12.co.us
Math
A compilation of resources designed to provide students with "instead of work" that is aligned to the Bridges Units.
Math Enrichment Topics - Tons of ideas!
Problem Solving Grades 3-4 - Standards Based problem solving activities for students in Grades 3 & 4
Problem Solving Grades 5-8 - Standards Based problem solving activities for students in Grades 5 - 8
Open Middle - Grade level and standards based deep, challenging problems, often with multiple right answers. Lead to great discussions about mathematical thinking.
Problem of the Week - Designed to provide students with an ongoing opportunity to solve mathematical problems. Each week, problems from various areas of mathematics will be posted here and e-mailed to teachers for use with their students from grades 3 and up.
NRICH - Covers just about every math topic with interesting problems that get kids thinking. I would suggest stage 2 for third grade gifted and stage 2 or 3 for fourth and fifth grades.
You can start with a 1 star challenge level and work students up to 2 or 3 star problems or simply choose a topic.
Art of Problem Solving - Alcumus offers students a customized learning experience, adjusting to student performance to deliver appropriate problems and lessons. Alcumus is specifically designed to provide high-performing students with a challenging curriculum appropriate to their abilities.
Grade 5+
Esti-Mysteries - Estimating mystery slideshows, 4 challenge levels that span grades K-12, fun images and clues to get kids thinking! Steve Wyborney also has some other awesome, free math related resources below.
Which One Doesn't Belong? - a website dedicated to providing thought-provoking puzzles for math teachers and students alike. There are no answers provided as there are many different, correct ways of choosing which one doesn't belong. Enjoy!
Resources to Increase Rigor in Math Instruction
Using the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Instruction by NAGC
A Teacher’s Guide to Using the Common Core State Standards with Mathematically Gifted and Advanced Learners by NAGC
“Teaching Mathematics to Gifted Students in a Mixed-Ability Classroom: http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/siegle/tag/Digests/e594.html
“Mathematically Gifted Students: How Can We Meet Their Needs?” http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10514.aspx
“Characteristics of Highly Able Math Students” :http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/enriched/parents/characteristics-math.aspx
Ideas for managing flexible groups in math: http://www.byrdseed.com/differentiating-math-lessons-for-gifted-students/
Low Threshold High Ceiling Tasks: http://nrich.maths.org/7701
The Inclusive Classroom: Meeting the Needs of Gifted Students: Differentiating Mathematics and Science Instruction (Northwestern University): http://educationnorthwest.org/webfm_send/755
Cross-Class Flexible Grouping for Mathematics, Grades 1-5: http://www.rtsd.org/cms/lib/PA01000218/Centricity/Domain/815/Cross-Class%20Flexible%20Grouping%20Math-corrected.pdf
reading
NOVEL CONVERSATIONS - Almost 60 pages of books with gifted characters. Most have an interest level (IL) and a lexile, along with a brief description.
High Reading Level, Low Maturity Level List - Extensive book list; click the tabs at the bottom to get a more narrow grade level.
Reading Continuum - provides a progression of skills for readers to help assess below, on, and above grade level reading
Grade 3 and 4
CommonLit is a free collection of fiction and nonfiction for 3rd-12th grade classrooms. The collection can be searched and filtered by Lexile level, grade, theme, genre, literary device or Common Core Standard. Each reading is able to be downloaded or read online. There are guiding questions and activities. My favorite feature is the recommendations for book pairings.
writing
Writing Continuum - Evaluate where students are at on continuums involving organization, ideas, voice, word choice, fluency, and grammar/conventions.
Writing Strategies Menu - Once you determine student goals from the continuum, try some strategies for improving writing in the above areas. Allows students to have choice, creativity, and to using interesting strategies to improve writing.
Grades 3 and 4
Overview: Planning a Dynamic Writer’s Workshop Grades 3 and 4
Grades 3 and 4
Poetry Example (students can choose 1/3 options) . Grade 5+
Grade 5+
Independent Writing Projects - This example has lessons on starting a great story, creating a compelling character, a page-turning plot, and an immersive setting.
Grade 5+
other
What can I do when I am done?
Here's where you can find all sorts of things for your students to do when they finish early.
4th Grade Social Studies
GEOGRAPHY - How Has Colorado’s Geography Influenced Its Development? - adapted from Curriculum Modifications and Extensions for Fourth Grade Social Studies Gifted and Talented Education Department, Denver Public Extensions for Fourth Grade Social Studies, Schools, ©2016
HISTORY - How Have People and Their Choices Influenced Colorado’s History? -adapted from Curriculum Modifications and Extensions for Fourth Grade Social Studies Gifted and Talented Education Department, Denver Public Extensions for Fourth Grade Social Studies, Schools, ©2016
COLORADO TODAY - How Can We Play a Part in Solving Problems Facing Colorado Today?-adapted from Curriculum Modifications and Extensions for Fourth Grade Social Studies Gifted and Talented Education Department, Denver Public Extensions for Fourth Grade Social Studies, Schools, ©2016
Story Corps - Focuses on collecting, sharing, and preserving of people’s stories from a variety of backgrounds with videos, animations, and podcasts
K-12 ADVANCED LEARNING LABS - Duke TIP recently teamed up with the NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) to create classroom resources ready to use with students. Advanced Learning Labs are aligned to a concept to use during remote instruction with your students. Choose to use each Advanced Learning Lab as an extension, find a concept to accelerate, or enrich a unit you already teach. With each Advanced Learning Lab, students explore logic puzzles, go on field studies, engage in research explorations, participate in mindfulness activities and continue engaging with math and literacy -- all through remote learning.
