This article provides information about the adaptation of cacti to drought and protection, as well as basic facts about age, distribution, and varieties. Pictures support the text that is written for native speakers age 8 and up.

This article starts with interesting facts about corn. The two next sections focus on the history of corn as a cultivated plant and the multitude of corn varieties and adaptations. The text is written for native speakers age 8 and up.

This is a scientific report with supporting links and audio files. The discussed sections are: Big Bang, the creation of the universe, creation of the solar system and the planet earth. Two audio files describe different creation stories in different traditions and the search for a second planet Earth. The two supporting files deal with the hypothetical questions of what is beyond the universe and what exactly the Big Bang was. The text is written and spoken in child friendly language for children 8 years and up.

This scientific article discusses two aspects about the sphere shape of our planet: the Earth concept through history of science and gravity as the source for ball-shaped structures in the universe. The text is written in child-friendly language for native readers age 9 and up.

This scientific article touches several different flower features and functions. It starts with the color and the attraction to different pollinators. It then explains how colors are produced in flowers and how scents attract insects. It also discusses how the scent emission varies throughout the day and how different animals perceive different odors. The text is written in child-friendly language for native speakers of 8 years and up.

This scientific article describes how glaciers are being created and how it ends in the sea, in rivers or in lakes. Additional information is provided about icebergs and why only the tip of an iceberg is visible. The text is written for native speakers 8 years and up.

This scientific article describes the physical phenomenon of gravitation. Starting with the discovery by Isaac Newton, the article explains the principles of gravitation, but also finds answers to the questions how heavy our planet is and why we still can lift a chair. The text is written for native speakers age 9 and up in child-friendly language.

This scientific article explains the phenomenon of high tide and low tide. It also compares the tide differences in oceans, the Mediterranean, and lakes. The text is written in child-friendly language for native speakers and appropriate for childen 8 years and up

This scientific article explains the historic, social, and economic implications of the invention of the steam engine. It also discusses how the industrial revolution made manufacturing plants independent from locations next to rivers. The last part describes the nostalgic use of historic steam engines. The text is in child-friendly language and appropriate for children age 8 and up.

This article provides a historic background to the fairytales of the fairytales collected by the Brothers Grimm. The original title "Children and Home Fairytales" was first published in 1812. It also focuses on the aspect of cruelty due to the fact they were originally not written for children but to educate common people. An audio link provides an extension of the information and a reflection on modern children stories. The text is written for native speakers age 8 and up. The audio text is spoken in natural language.

In this lesson, students use comprehension skills to discuss and respond to questions about a text.

This activity for gifted learners might serve as part of a larger poetry unit. Students will take part in close readings of a variety of poems throughout the unit.  This research project should be assigned to students who demonstrate solid understanding of poetry (figurative language, structure, meaning) and are ready for a challenge as they work individually, or with a partner, to close read “Something Told the Wild Geese” by Rachel Field and then investigate…What is the “something”?  Using the information they discover in their research, they will create a complementary poem to “Something Told the Wild Geese,” explaining the scientific principal behind each stanza in verse which they will read to the class.  This lesson was developed by NCDPI as part of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Instructional Resources Project. This lesson plan has been vetted at the state level for standards alignment, AIG focus, and content accuracy.

This inquiry is an exploration into the concepts of time, continuity, and change in a community with the dual purpose of establishing students' understandings of the passage of time and explaining why the past matters today. One way to explore present circumstances is through an examination of the short- and long- term effects of the past. Through identifying the relationship of cause and effect, students learn to recognize how continuity and change over time help us understand historical developments in our present communities.

This activity for gifted learners follows close reading of Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan.  At the end of the reading of Sarah, Plain and Tall, all students will complete a timeline of events & characters throughout the novel that is differentiated based on readiness.  This project should be assigned to students who not only demonstrate a solid understanding of the novel, but also show keen insight into the main characters’ development (traits, motivations, feelings, etc.) throughout the novel.  Students will analyze the characters’ development through the lens of the American frontier/pioneer period in our nation’s history, determining possible relationships between events during this time period and character development in the novel, through both research and careful reflection of characters/events in the novel.  This will culminate in the creation of a dual timeline.  This lesson was developed by NCDPI as part of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Instructional Resources Project. This lesson plan has been vetted at the state level for standards alignment, AIG focus, and content accuracy.

In this lesson, students apply close reading skills they have been building in Lessons 2-5.

In this lesson, students use comprehension skills to discuss and respond to questions about a text.

After the teacher shows students her online timeline she has created of her own life, she will instruct higher level students to create an online timeline of the life of someone famous/historically significant.  If the class is studying famous African-Americans who have contributed to history, the teacher could assign a famous African-American (or if the class is studying U.S. Presidents, a president could be assigned to each student).  Students will research the famous/historically significant person which they are assigned from books and the internet.  Then students will create an online timeline of the person to share with the class in a presentation.  This lesson was developed by NCDPI as part of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Instructional Resources Project. This lesson plan has been vetted at the state level for standards alignment, AIG focus, and content accuracy.

In this lesson, students use comprehension skills to discuss and respond to questions about a text.

The lesson will focus on the importance of understanding technical procedures from a text and following procedures in a specific sequence.