Gifted Performance Standards
4th Grade
In the 2005-2006 school year, the gifted program in the
Carroll ISD implemented Texas Performance Standards Project. The fourth grade
TPSP includes five performance tasks that teachers can use with students. The
tasks, designed to generate excitement for learning, are open-ended,
authentic, and student-centered.
Each task consists of learning experiences that help
students build their research skills and knowledge of the subject. Students
then conduct independent research that ends in the final product, where
students demonstrate their knowledge base. Student projects are assessed in
the areas of product, research process, and communication.
CISD gifted teachers selected the topic of Enigmas
from the five choices of projects. Students worked for several months
researching and writing about enigmas such as Atlantis, The Bermuda
Triangle, Pyramids, Roanoke, Loch Ness, and other enigmas. Enigmas
is a science unit that allows students to study a naturally occurring enigma
and apply scientific research methods to the task. The unit leads students to
use deductive reasoning and logic, writing and research skills which are all
included in the 4th grade Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Project
work culminated in advanced products which included science experiments,
Powerpoints, games, posters, brochures, newscasts, and many other products.
Durham 4th grade students presented their products to their parents and peers
using the school's Smart Board tablet. The Smart Board is a
presentation device for students to facilitate their Powerpoints and polish
their presentation skills in front of an audience. Students were excited to
display their work in an authentic manner.
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Light Box Experiments
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How big is the Yeti?
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