MATHS ACTIVITIES FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED

Story Problem Writing

• Gifted students apply their simple math knowledge though the composition of story problems. To enrich the math lessons of gifted students, third grade teachers can simply translate the numerical math problems that the other students complete into story problems before presenting them to the students. While the rest of the pupils determine what 2+2 equals, the gifted student can figure out, "If Tommy has two balls and Sally give him two more, how many does he now have?"

  Once the student has developed an understanding of how to solve the story problems, the teacher can request that the student translate numeral problems into story problems himself, creating applied math problems that he can solve or could even be presented to classmates.

Math Song

• Talented students can put math to music through the composition of a math song. While other students work to memorize mathematical principles or properties, the gifted students can compose a math ditty that demonstrates their understanding of the math concepts being explored. Encourage the gifted student to use a classic melody or develop his own and write lyrics that contain math information. Allow him to present his original composition to the class or create a digital recording to share with others.

Number Hunt Ordering

• Keep your gifted student on the lookout by engaging her in a number hunt ordering activity. This ongoing activity gives your student something to do while her peers finish their work. Provide the student with print media, scissors, glue and a long sheet of banner paper. Tell her to go through the magazine or newspaper and cut out numbers. Once she has collected an assortment of numbers, ask her to glue them, in order, on her sheet of banner paper. Tell the student to leave room between each number so that she can later add numbers between the original digits. Keep the banner paper in the room and give her time to work on her number collection periodically. By year's end, she will have an impressive collection of ordered numbers.