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Evaluation

Concurrent 60 min

Beyond the Textbook: Ten Hands-On Assignments that Promote Critical Thinking

Saturday, November 15, 2025
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM ET
Location: Convention Center, 408/409/410
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Short Description: Gifted middle school students need assignments that promote critical thinking and higher-level reasoning in a variety of contexts. Discover project-based assignments crafted to help students develop problem-solving skills, think beyond the formula or text, and reach for deeper meaning and understanding. Assignments come from both language arts and mathematics courses but can be adapted for many classes and age groups.

Curriculum Track - Sponsored by Riverside Insights

Learning Objectives:

  • Participants will become familiar with ten assignments that promote critical thinking and higher-level reasoning skills.
  • Participants will understand what elevates an assignment to this level of reasoning, analysis, and thought to be appropriate for gifted students.
  • Participants will examine and discuss how the NAGC Gifted Programming standards help to develop assignments specific to the gifted population.