As like with our other recommendations, toys, and books – we strive to provide age-adjusted recommendations for gifted and high ability kids. We hope you enjoy! While some of the toys and games have varying age ranges, we’ve sorted them from youngest to oldest as best we could.

National Geographic Earth Science Kit

Over 15 Science Experiments for Kids, including a crystal growing kit, volcano science kit, dig kits and gemstones, STEM projects, and water tornadoes!

Adjusted Age (with supervision): 6 and up

National Geographic Chemistry Set

Another great science kit from National Geographic! 45 easy experiments! Launch a rocket, make a volcano, create a geyser and create awesome chemical reactions.

Adjusted Age (with supervision): 6 and up

National Geographic Rock Tumbler Kit

For your budding geologist, make any stone sparkle and turn rough rocks into gemstones. The kit contains a high quality tumbler with everything you need to create polished gemstones.

Adjusted Age (with supervision): 5 and up

Educational Word Game – Kit and App with 9 Learning Games

Plugo letters is a word building game kit. Introductory spelling games for kids using phonics. With 9 interactive games and 250 levels, you can start your very early reader and progress at their individual pace.

Adjusted Age: 18 months and up

MathLink Cubes – TOP RATED!

Numberblocks bring math learning to life for your youngest gifted toddlers, ages 18 months and up with supervision (choking hazard!) Build Numberblocks from one to ten and master math skills through hands-on discovery and play.

Adjusted Age: 18 months and up (with supervision, choking hazard)

Klutz Lego Gear Bots Science Activity Kit

Build 8 physics-driven kinetic creatures using LEGO Technic bricks and papercraft. Learn about axles, cams, cranks, engineering in everyday machines. Includes every LEGO element you need!

Adjusted Age: 5 years and up

Solar Robot Toys

Includes 12 different building robots to move on land or water, with increasing complexity to adjust for age and ability. This will teach your child how to engineer a robot that uses solar power!

Adjusted Age: 7-8 years and up

My First Science Kit

With over 50 great science experiments, it’s a great starter kit for younger gifted kids. Includes easy instruction manuals! Some of the experiments can be done in just 5-10 minutes. This is the science kit if you have a gifted toddler or preschooler!

Adjusted Age: 3 years and up (with supervision)

Build Your Own Wearable Mechanical Hand

2021 Toy Association’s STEAM Toy of the Year Winner! Uses no motors or batteries. Learn how pneumatic and hydraulic systems are used in industrial robots such as automobiles.

Adjusted Age: 5 years and up (with supervision)

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As like with our other recommendations, toys, and books – we strive to provide age-adjusted recommendations for gifted and high ability kids. We hope you enjoy! While some of the toys and games have varying age ranges, we’ve sorted them from youngest to oldest as best we could.

Shapes and Colors Puzzle

If you have a gifted one year old, you may have this already… but if you don’t, get it! With solid wood, non-toxic paint, and bright colors this is a very high quality set. Includes 12 pieces of different geometric shapes in 6 colors.

Adjusted Age: 1 and up

PicassoTiles

A magnet 3D building block type of set. Includes 8 different bright, colorful tiles to build unlimited creations! Fun for the entire family! Kids of all ages and parents love PicassoTiles.

Adjusted Age: 1+ with supervision

Magnet Toys Building Blocks

The perfect gift for gifted two and three year olds. The magnetic blocks help foster brain development and creative thinking by giving kids constructive ways to express themselves. Encourages creative thinking and help kids learn how to solve complex problems as they play. Helps with shape and color recognition, hand-eye coordination, and logical and spatial thinking.

Adjusted Age: 2-3

ThinkFun Zingo Sight Words

We are huge, huge, huge fans of everything ThinkFun! This educational game was a toy of the year finalist. Includes 72 Zingo! Sight Words Tiles. 6 Double-Sided Zingo! Cards. Fun for kids and adults of all ages.

Adjusted Age: 2+ (maybe 18 mos?)

Who Knows More? Kids or Adults Trivia Game

If your family likes games – GET THIS. Great for family game night or during holiday breaks! For gifted kids ages 5 and up to adult. It can be very challenging to find games that are fun for everyone – but this is it! Questions cover history, pop culture and more. Get ready to laugh and have a great time!

Adjusted Age: 5 to adult

ThinkFun Gravity Maze Marble Run Brain Game 

TOY OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER! Great STEM game, made for kids ages 8+, appropriate for 5+ gifted kids. Gravity Maze is a combination logic game, marble run, and STEM toy that helps build spatial reasoning and planning skills.

Adjusted Age: 5 and up

LEGO Minecraft The Skeleton Dungeon Set

Made for kids ages 8+. appropriate and challenging for gifted children ages 5+. This set includes caves to explore, skeletons to battle and a spawning function that reveals more skeletons.

Adjusted Age: 5 and up

Science Experiment Kit For Kids

Science experiment kids are an obvious choice for gifted elementary school students. Kit includes over 150 experiments ranging from changing colors and glowing water to setting up underwater volcanoes, making magic potions & many more. We’ve purchased many science kits, this is among the best for the price.

Adjusted Age (with supervision): 5 and up

Roblox

It’s so fun to see how Roblox and Minecraft (and building games in general) are still going strong in 2023. Roblox is a gaming platform for kids to design, create, and modify their own games. Learn the basics of coding and how to communicate and strategize with others. Good for gifted kids as young as 5 with supervision. Generally intended for 7+. An easy and great gift for grandparents

Adjusted Age (with supervision): 5 and up

Snap Circuits

Snap Circuits as still going strong in 2023! The set is intended for children ages 8+ to teach to the basics of electrical engineering, but appropriate for gifted students as young as 6. Build exciting projects and toys using the included colorful instruction book!

Adjusted Age (with supervision): 6 and up

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With its ability to engage curiosity, foster scientific exploration, and encourage creativity and responsibility, this kit is an ideal choice for gifted students. Let them embark on a journey of discovery and wonder as they witness the miraculous transformation of caterpillars into beautiful butterflies.

Butterfly Garden

Wonderful for gifted children and even adults! The Butterfly Garden provides kids with limitless learning opportunities, special family time – and FUN! Recipient of Newsweek’s prestigious “Best in STEM 2021” Award. 

NOTE:  An $8.95 fee is required at time of redemption for shipping and handling of your baby caterpillars. So be sure and get this in time for the holidays!

Why The Butterfly Habitat Is Great For Gifted Students

Stimulates Scientific Exploration

The Painted Lady Butterfly Kit offers an immersive and hands-on learning experience. With a STEM journal and a voucher for a chrysalis log and caterpillars, this kit allows gifted students to witness the incredible transformation of caterpillars into beautiful butterflies right before their eyes. This unique opportunity to observe the life cycle of butterflies up close encourages a deeper understanding of biology and ignites a passion for scientific exploration.

Encourages Observation and Documentation

Gifted children often have a keen eye for detail and a strong inclination towards observation and documentation. The included STEM journal provides a platform for them to record their observations, ask questions, and draw conclusions about the different stages of butterfly development. By engaging in this process, they cultivate their skills in data collection, analysis, and critical thinking.

Fosters Responsibility and Care

Caring for the caterpillars and witnessing their transformation into butterflies teaches gifted kids about responsibility and empathy. They will learn the importance of providing a suitable habitat, the need for proper food, and the significance of maintaining a nurturing environment. These valuable lessons in empathy and caretaking will serve them well not only with the butterflies but also in their relationships with others.

Encourages Creativity!

The Painted Lady Butterfly Kit invites gifted students to explore their creativity through various means. They can utilize their artistic skills by drawing and painting the butterflies they see, expressing their own interpretation of these delicate creatures. Additionally, they can incorporate their critical thinking abilities by designing and implementing unique experiments to discover more about the behavior and characteristics of butterflies.

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Explore a wide variety of science competitions and scholarships available to high-achieving students in science.

Everything You Need to Ace Science in One Big Fat Notebook

Middle Schoolers! Check out this 5-star science study guide from the brains behind Brain Quest. Covers experiments, matter, chemical reactions, the periodic table, the solar system, weather and climate, cells, genetics, electricity and much more!

National Science Bowl

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Science Bowl® is a nationwide academic competition that tests middle and high school students’ knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics. 

Ages: Middle school and high school

Fellows Scholarship

Fellows Scholarships are generous scholarships of $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 awarded to gifted students 18 years and younger who have completed a significant piece of work in one of 9 categories – science being one of them.

Ages: Elementary school, middle school, and high school

3M Young Scientist Challenge

The annual challenge asks students in 5-8 grade to submit with a 1–2 minute video for a chance to win $25,000 and an exclusive mentorship with a 3M Scientist.

Ages: Middle school (Grades 5-8)

National Science Olympiad

Founded in 1984, Science Olympiad is the premier team STEM competition in the nation, providing standards-based challenges to 6,000 teams at 425 tournaments in all 50 states. For middle school and high school students.

Ages: Middle school and high school

Society For Science Affiliated Science Fairs

With 400 affiliated fairs around the world, these fairs facilitate the pursuit of STEM in young scientists, engineers, and inventors. These fairs are the first steps to competing at Regeneron ISEF and Thermo Fisher JIC. Find a science fair in your state by visiting https://findafair.societyforscience.org/.

Student Ideas for a Better America

The National Museum of Education is looking for creative students in grades PreK-12. Enter any idea or invention for a new way to demonstrate an educational concept, an idea for a new product, an improvement for an existing product, a new procedure, or any idea that solves a problem and/or makes life better. Winners are also then eligible to apply for induction into the National Gallery for America’s Young Inventors!

Ages: All ages! Pre-kindergarten through Grade 12

Neuroscience Research Prize

Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and Child Neurology Society, this award is designed to encourage high school students to explore the world of the brain and nervous system through research, identify and reward those students whose scientific skill and talent indicate potential for scientific contributions in the field of neuroscience, and recognize the efforts of science teachers who have demonstrated support for students interested in neuroscience.

Ages: High school

ExploraVision

ExploraVision is a science competition for K–12 students of all interest, skill, and ability levels. The competition encourages students to combine their imaginations with the tools of science to create and explore a vision of a future technology.

Project categories are Grades K-3, Grades 4-6, Grades 7-9, and Grades 10-12. Prizes include up to $240,000 in savings bonds, an expense-paid trip to Washington DC, and much more!

See a video below of an elementary category winning teacher brainstorming tips!

Ages: Kindergarten through 12th grade, elementary school, middle school, and high school

Regeneron Science Talent Search

Regeneron STS is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science research competition for high school students. Started in 1942 as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search, Regeneron STS recognizes and empowers our nation’s most promising young scientists who are developing ideas that could solve society’s most urgent challenges.

Ages: High school

MIT THINK Scholars Program

THINK project proposals are science, technology, and engineering ideas that span many fields, from green technologies and practical devices to software applications. 

Ages: High school

Envirothon

North America’s largest high school STEM competition for grades 9-12. It emphasizes environmental conservation and offers hands-on learning in aquatic ecology, forestry, soils, land use, wildlife, and current environmental issues.

Ages: High School

Junior Science and Humanities Symposium

The STEM competition that challenges students from everywhere to achieve, and to build the skills that prepare them for college and career. The JSHS is backed by the Department of Defense (DoD), and administered by the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA).

Perform original research, present findings, and compete for scholarships, aid, and opportunities. JSHS exposes students to diversity of thought, and promotes learning that can be applied to regular studies and real life.

Undergraduate tuition scholarship and cash awards range from $1,000 – $12,000!

Ages: High School

Aerial Drone Competition

Recommended for students grades 5-12, teams will compete in local and national competitions where students work together to complete four missions.

Ages: Middle School, High School (Grades 5 – 12)

Bell Advanced Vertical Robotics Competition

The Bell Advanced Vertical Robotics Competition inspires future entrepreneurs in the fields of engineering and manufacturing. Students use hands-on, industry-standard tools to design, build, and compete against teams from around the US with the most advanced aerial robotics technology available today.

American Computer Science League

American Computer Science League (ACSL) organizes computer programming and computer science contests for K-12 schools, organizations and local groups. The 2023-2024 school year will be their 46th year of continuous operation! Last year, about 8,000 students the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia participated in the regular season competitions.

Each season is divided into four contests, testing students on fundamental concepts in computer science, ranging from Number Systems to Boolean Algebra to Digital Electronics. In the upper divisions, each contest also includes a problem to solve by programming using Python, C++ or Java.

Ages: Kindergarten, Elementary School, Middle School, High School

ArcGIS Online Competition

Esri and the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) challenge US students to conduct and share a research project about something in their home state.

Ages: Middle School, High School Grades 4-12

International Biology Olympiad

The International Biology Olympiad is the association that organizes the world’s premier biology competition for secondary school students.

National Robotics Challenge

The longest continually operating robotics competition in the world! The contest is open to elementary, middle school, and high school students.

The National Robotics Challenge is designed to provide students of all ages and levels of study the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of manufacturing processes, controls, robotics, and other technologies through competitive engineering contests. Students are judged on their application of technology principles, engineering concepts, and their ability to solve real-world problems through a team approach.

Solar Car Challenge

The Solar Car Challenge is the top project-based STEM Initiative helping motivate students in Science, Engineering, and Alternative Energy. In 1989, the Solar Car Team launched an education program to teach high school students how to build and safely race roadworthy solar cars.

Genes in Space

Grades 7-12: Design DNA experiments for space challenges.

Earth’s life evolved with gravity and atmospheric protection. Space offers opportunities and problems:

• Alien Life: Can we find new life forms?
• Organ Systems: Does space travel affect our eyes, bones, and organs?
• Cosmic Radiation: How does deep space alter our DNA?
• Bioengineering: Can organisms help us inhabit new planets?
• Space Microbiome: Which microbes accompany us to space?
• Your Idea: What’s your boldest space-related question?

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Most kids love games, but gifted kids REALLY LOVE games. My kids in particular really love board games, and can get quite competitive. It takes practice, though, to win and lose with grace. Gifted kids are often high achievers and very accustomed to being “the best”.

Gifted kids often climb the academic ladder with ease and consume books meant for kids years older. Yet, this gift can create an unrealistic expectation that they should win at everything. Remember, these kids don’t have a ton of practice at “losing”, so board games can help foster incredibly important life skills.

As any parent can attest, no one like a sore loser. Being unable to accept loss gracefully can rapidly push peers away and contribute to social struggles that gifted children with asynchronous development already experience.

• Board games can help gifted children practice social interaction with peers, siblings, and parents. With board games, kids experience both winning and losing, and practicing the art of winning with empathy and losing with grace is an important life skill.
• Board games can help instill patience and the art of conversation. Many gifted children struggle with impatience and get frustrated quickly. Just sitting together (without phones!) can be an important tool in regulating these emotions.
• Board games help children practice conflict resolution. Inevitably, disagreements will ensue during board games, and learning to navigate these situations civilly and patiently is an important skill.

Board Games For Gifted Children Ages 3-6

As with our book recommendations for gifted kids, we’ve adjusted the suggested age ranges to better align with where we believe the game would be most appropriate.

Ticket to Ride: First Journey

This strategy game is marketed ages 6+, appropriate for gifted children ages 3-4+. Fun to play in teams as well as individually. Great lessons on geography and cities in the U.S. Fun for adults and kids, and easy for kids to play on their own too!

Outfoxed

Outfoxed is a fun, cooperative board game that is perfect for gifted children ages 3 and up. Gamewright makes amazing games for gifted kids, definitely check out everything they offer. We have yet to be disappointed with any of their offerings.

Rat A Tat Cat

Another Gamewright winner! If you’ve read our other posts, this is a longtime family favorite. You absolutely cannot lose with Rat A Tat Cat for gifted children ages 4 and up. Bonus is it’s fun for the entire family!

Chess

Chess is an obvious choice for gifted kids, and many advanced learners show interest at young ages, around 4-5 years old. This set is very high quality, and comes with extra pieces and is magnetic so they don’t tip over when the game is moved. Chess is a great bonding game that encourages patience, memory, and concentration.

Why Do Gifted Children Love Board Games?

Gifted kids need challenge and love diving into complex problems. Numerous studies show that strategic board games help develop problem-solving skills, memory, and spatial awareness.

For gifted students, board games and games in general can play an important role in “filling the gaps” where the traditional classroom may fall short.

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Regardless of whether you are fortunate enough to be the teacher in a differentiated learning environment, a teacher of one or a handful of high ability learners, or a homeschooling parent — keeping math exciting and fun can be a challenge. So, when kids are academically and psychologically ready to “move on” in math, but the schools don’t offer acceleration or differentiated curriculum (as is often the case at the elementary level), what can parents and teachers do to keep these kids motivated?

Math Contests For Gifted Children

Teachers, parents, homeschoolers, and educators of gifted children can enhance the math curriculum, and engage kids on a new level by participating in fun math competitions. Gifted classrooms with children as young as 1st and 2nd grade, all the way up through high school have many options to compete nationally, and even internationally, with equally talented peers.

One key benefit of participation in national and international math contests is that kids from New York to Hong Kong to Ash Fork, Arizona can connect with global peers, and engage in the common pursuit of MATH!

Math Competitions for Elementary, Middle School, and High School

Following is a list of some of the top math contests in the United States and Internationally. Some are free, some have a fee. By no means is this an all-inclusive list, and there are many more regional competitions that are not listed here.

Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater. — Albert Einstein

The American Mathematics Competition (the AMC 8)

The American Mathematics Competition (the AMC 8) is an exam for students in grades 8 and below, administered annually by the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) to students all over the United States. For more than 60 years, students across the country have taken up the challenge of America’s longest-running and most prestigious math contest, The American Mathematics Competition (AMC). Children as young as 8 years old have participated in this competition, and the Mathematical Association of America encourages all students in grades 6, 7, and 8 to participate in the AMC 8.

Ages: Grades 6-8

The American Mathematics Competition (the AMC 10/12)

The American Mathematics Competition (the AMC 10/12) is an exam for high school students. A special purpose of the AMC 10/12 is to help identify those few students with truly exceptional mathematics talent. Students who are among the very best deserve some indication of how they stand relative to other students in the country and around the world.

Ages: Students with a passion for problem-solving who are in grade 10 or below and under 17.5 years of age on the day of the contest can take the AMC 10. Students in grade 12 or below and under 19.5 years of age on the day of the contest can take the AMC 12.

MOEMS Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle School Students

MOEMS Math Olympiads provides monthly problem-solving contests for elementary and middle school students grades 4-8. Team and individual awards!

Ages: Grades 4 – 8

Caribou Cup International Math Competition

Caribou Cup is an international online math competition that is held 6 times annually. Students can participate in 7 grade levels (K-1, 2, 3-4, 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12).

Ages: Grades K-12

Harvard / MIT Math Tournament

Founded in 1998, HMMT is one of the largest and most prestigious high school competitions in the world. Each tournament draws close to 1000 students from around the globe, including top scorers at national and international olympiads. HMMT is entirely student-organized, by students at Harvard, MIT, and nearby schools, many of whom are HMMT alumni themselves.

Ages: Students in grades 9 through 12 from all over the world are eligible to compete. However, middle school students who feel ready to compete are also welcome

International Mathematical Olympiad Foundation

The International Mathematical Olympiad Foundation runs is an international competition for high school students which has been running annually since 1959 and now has over 100 countries competing, including all members of the G20.

Ages: All ages can compete, designed for high school students

Math Kangaroo

Math Kangaroo is an international math competition for children in grades 1-12 and takes place annually on the third Thursday in March. Winners can be featured on the website, win medals, gifts, and even academic scholarships! Every child gets a t-shirt, certificate of participation, and gift on test day. What a great way to encourage a love of math in all kids.

Ages: Grades 1-12

Math League

Math League offers a number of services focused on enhancing the quality and quantity of competitive mathematical opportunities available to students everywhere. A variety of programs are available for students in grades 4-12. 

Ages: Grades 4-12

Noetic Math Contest

The Noetic Learning Math Contest (NLMC) is a semiannual problem solving contest for elementary and middle school students (2nd – 6th grades). It’s a fun and interesting contest for way for parents and teachers of younger gifted children to help differentiate math and compete nationally with other high-achieving kids, and get national recognition. Kids’ names are listed on the website (or they can be listed anonymously), and making the “National Honor Roll” in math is a big achievement for elementary school kids! Gifted K-1 students can compete at the 2nd grade level. 

Ages: K – 6. Kindergarten and 1st graders will compete at 2nd grade level.

MATHCOUNTS Competition Series

MATHCOUNTS Competition Series is a middle school math competition for students enrolled in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. MATHCOUNTS is a live, in-person event that is held in all 50 states s well as U.S. territories and schools worldwide through the U.S. Department of Defense and State Department. Competitions take place in over 500 local chapters.

Ages: Middle schoolers 6-8 grades

National Economics Challenge

The National Economics Challenge is America’s premier economics competition for high school students. Each year, close to 10,000 students from across the nation take the chance to shine while being tested on key micro and macroeconomic principles, as well as their knowledge of the world economy. 

Ages: High school students

Ole Miss School of Education Math Contest

Ole Miss School of Education Math Contest is a project that includes a daily math challenges, elementary brain teaser, and middle school tournaments. Create custom leaderboards and win prizes!

Ages: K-12

Perennial Math

Perennial Math offers online competitions, onsite tournaments, and virtual tournaments for math students in grades 3-8.

Ages: Grades 3-8

Pi Math Contest

Pi Math Contest (PiMC) is an annual math competition for elementary, middle school and high school students. Students can participate as individuals.

Ages: K-12 grades

United States Academic Decathalon

The United States Academic Decathalon (USAD) is a ten-event scholastic competition for teams of high school students.

Ages: The “focus semesters” for GPA computation for tenth, eleventh-, and twelfth-grade students go back two years prior to the present grade level of the contestant. GPA calculations for ninth-grade students include only their grades earned while in the eighth grade and in the summer session between eighth and ninth grade.

Mathematical Talent Search

The USA Mathematical Talent Search is a free mathematics competition open to all United States middle and high school students. The USAMTS allows students a full month or more to work out their solutions.

Ages: Middle School and High School

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1. Use a planner.  I always write ‘TEST DAY’ on the actual day of the test in my planner, and it also helps to use a color-coding method (red for due tomorrow, yellow for in a few days, green for a few weeks away.)
2. Create a “study plan”. In your notebook write down when your tests are, what material they are on, and how long you want to study per day. I usually study for most classes 20 minutes a day, starting 3 days before a test.

Studying Habits

1. Use different sources. I have found that it isn’t very useful to just read a textbook over and over again, you could use other materials such as online flashcards, mnemonic devices, and video and audio resources. Crash Course is a very good resource, and I also use a online site called Quizlet which can be used on the go!
2. Put the information in your own words. Many textbooks and teachers use big words, so an easier way to understand it is to put it into shorter, commonsense words that are easier to remember.
3. Go to a museum, visit a historical site, etc. If you see something in person, it is easier to ‘connect the dots’ and be able to understand the material better than you would just reading your notes.

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Rock Candy Lab

You will need:

• A wooden skewer
• A clothespin
• 1 cup of water
• 2-3 cups of sugar
• A tall narrow glass or jar

What to do:

1. Clip the wooden skewer into the clothespin so that it hangs down inside the glass and is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the bottom of the glass. (as shown)
2. Remove the skewer and clothespin and put them aside for now.
3. Pour the water into a pan and bring it to boil.
4. Pour about 1/4 cup of sugar into the boiling water, stirring until it dissolves.
5. Keep adding more and more sugar, each time stirring it until it dissolves, until no more will dissolve. This will take time and patience and it will take longer for the sugar to dissolve each time.Be sure you don’t give up too soon. Once no more sugar will dissolve, remove it from heat and allow it to cool for at least 20 minutes.
6. Have your friendly ADULT carefully pour the sugar solution into the jar almost to the top. Then submerge the skewer back into the glass making sure that it is hanging straight down the middle without touching the sides.
7. Allow the jar to fully cool and put it someplace where it will not be disturbed.
8. Now just wait. The sugar crystals will grow over the next 3-7 days.

Slime Lab

You will need:

•  1/4 cup of water
• 1/4 cup of white craft glue (like Elmer’s glue)
• 1/4 cup of liquid starch (used for clothes)
•  Food coloring (optional)
•  Mixing bowl
•  Mixing spoon

What to do:

• Pour all of the the glue into the mixing bowl.
• Pour all of the water to the mixing bowl with the glue.
• Stir the glue and water together.
• Add your food color now – about 6 drops should do it.
• Now add the liquid starch and stir it in.
• It should be nice and blobby by now. As you play with your slimy concoction, it will become more stretchy and easier to hold.

Soap Powered Boat Lab

What to do:

• A foam tray (like the kind meat comes in) or a piece of non-currogated cardboard
• A tray, bowl, or cookie sheet full of water
• Liquid dish soap
• A toothpick

You will need:

• Cut the foam tray or cardboard into a boat shape as shown below:

• Dip the toothpick into the liquid soap and use the toothpick to put soap onto the sides of the notch at the back of the boat.
• That’s it! Now carefully place the boat onto the surface of the water and watch it scoot across the water for several seconds – you’ve made a soap-powered boat! To demonstrate the boat again, you will need to rinse out the tray to remove any soap from the previous demonstration.

• Also, another fun idea would be to get a science kit- it provides a variety of different experiments that can be easily cleaned up and stored. For example, here’s our favorite tried and true Science Kits:

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Top 3 Apps To Create Your Own Video Games

GameSalad (https://gamesalad.com) lets you make the games on the computer and then transfer it to different platforms. They also have a student/teacher discount of 50% for the PRO package, so it would be $9.50 a month. Using GameSalad, you can also make money from your games using in-app purchases. You can load in art and sound effects and you can easily test the game at any time. This is a very well-known site – 3 games from this website have reached #1 in the United States app store. GameSalad also supports most-if not all- platforms: Apple, Android, HTML5, Windows, and Amazon.

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ABC mouse is a paid online website and app for children ages 2-13. Engage in reading, math, science, and art at the grade level and pace you need.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy can help challenge accelerated gifted students at the appropriate grade level and interest. Whether you are interested in computer science, language, math, or art – you can find Khan Academy courses that enables you to accelerate the the pace you need.

Math BINGO App

I used to play this app when I was younger! There are 5 different types: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and mixed, and there are 3 levels of difficulty. You get to choose a avatar, and by playing, you unlock BINGO Bugs- the goal is to get them all. This kept me hooked on the game even after I got all the BINGO Bugs!

Quizlet

Quizlet is an amazing resource for students. With millions of study sets and study notes, it’s an app that every kid will use from middle school on up through high school.

Simple Physics App

“SimplePhysics lets you design complex structures for everything from tree houses to ferris wheels and then simulates your design with a sophisticated physics engine.” This is a very interesting app which you use to make structures, and then you can test it with a close to reality physics simulator. This is perfect for children who like to be creative and imaginative, but still stimulates their brain.

Stack the Countries App

As you learn country capitals, landmarks, geographic locations and more, you carefully build a stack of countries that reaches the checkered line to win each level. You earn a random country for every successfully completed level. All of your countries appear on your own personalized maps of the continents. Stack the Countries was really  easy to learn and was challenging to beat sometimes! It is great for gifted children because it keeps them occupied, because they are playing to get something (get all of the continents.)

Trainyard App

In Trainyard, the goal is to get every train to its corresponding station. “As the game progresses, you’ll have to use colour theory to combine trains of different colours, use timing to merge and split trains, and use every inch of your brain in your quest to beat the game.” This app requires a lot of concentration and smarts- perfect for a gifted child to play in the car, waiting for their sister’s gymnastics practice to end, and more.

Unblock Me App

Unblock Me is a puzzle app. The goal is to move the red block off the board by sliding the other blocks out of the way in the least amount of moves. There are 3 game difficulties ranging from Beginner to Expert, and there are 2 game modes- regular mode and challenge mode. In challenge mode, each puzzle has 3 stars to earn. This is a great game to play when you are trying to pass the time or just want to have a little challenge.

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