Brilliant Activities for Stretching Gifted and Talented Children

While written mainly for exceptional pupils up to the age of 11, this book presents approaches and insights that can apply to virtually any pupil and to any teaching situation.

Part I – Theories and Related Activities 7–32
Bloom’s Taxonomy 7–11
The Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking 12–21
Brainstorming 22–24
Scamper Your Way to Creative Thinking 25–30
Blockbusting 31
Making Associations 32
Part II – Whole-class Activities 33–55
Quick Warm-ups 33–36
Island Fever 33
Pollution Solution 33
War Works 34
Sweet Sounds 34
Housing Heaven 35
Cook’s Delight 35
Busy Machine 36
Clever Cleaner 36
Brainteasers 37–39
The Walkers’ Vans 37
Namesake Double Take 37
Tyre Trouble 38
Doorway to Paradise 38
Light Bulb 39
Farmer Lloyd 39
Maths Mania 40–45
Galactic Currency (Part 1) 40
Galactic Currency (Part 2) 40
Highest Number 41
Magic Formula 41
What’s the Connection? 42
Calculator Calamity 42
Magic Square Mystery 43
How Old Are You Exactly? 43
Decimal Time 44
Mysterious Maths 44
Behind the ?, Part 1 45
Behind the ?, Part 2 45
Answers (Brainteasers and Maths Mania) 46
Longer Whole-class Activities 47–55
Galactic News 47
Galactic News, Part 2 – Advertisements48
Galactic News, Part 3 – Property 49
Galactic News, Part 4 – Sports 50
Galactic News, Part 5 – Classifieds
and other sections 51

The Future 52
Things to Do with Junk 53
Alligator’s Dinner 54
The Time Machine 55
Part III – Individual Activities 56–102
Challenge Cupcakes 56
Metaphors 56
Sound of Happiness 57
Missing PE Teacher 57
Open the Car! 58
Give ‘em a Hand 58
Wanna Fly Like a Bird? 59
Ferocious Rabbits! 59
I’m Curious 60
Travel Tips 60
Sun Glum 61
What’s in the School? 61
Unhang a Coat-hanger 62
Imagine That! 62
Culinary Utensils 63
My Environment 63
Metaphors 64
More Metaphors 64
Natural Comparisons 65
Stretch Your Imagination 65
If I Were … 66
Xander Paul Dition 66
Force Fitting Functions 67
Point of View (imagine) 67
Design a Cycle 68
A Better Box 68
Elaboration Tasks 69
Eye Charts 69
Think Like a Vegetable 70
Improve a Smile 70
Elephant Day 71
Interesting Sentences 71
Reversing Myself 72
Hibernation 72
Multiple Meanings 73
Finding New Ways 73
Sun Living 74
Three-toed Sloth 74
Stretch Your Imagination 75
Fashion Designer 75
New Shoes 76
Grasshopper Alert! 76

Invention Categories 77
Travel Puzzlers 77
What If? 78
The Pet Elecat! 78
The Spacecraft 79
Be Curious 79
Circle Fun 80
New Year’s Resolutions 80
Alternative Uses 81
A Whale’s Tale 81
Bird’s-eye View 82
Over the Rainbow 82
Power Challenge 83
The Unique Seashell 83
Make a Long List … 84
Treasure! 84
Who’s the Creature? 85
Feelings Poem 85
Drawing Feelings 86
A Creative Puzzle 86
Days of the Week 87
Tall/Small 87
Milk Containers 88
No Corners! 88
Wishes, like Butterflies … 89
In the Sky 89
Idea Finding 90
Idiomatic Phrases 90
Fashionista 91
Falling Star 91
Creative Comparisons 92
Make a Long List 92
Read, Read, Read 93
Why? 93
Coloured Stars 94
Which One? 94
Cheeky Children 95
Never Never Land 95
Rhyming Words 96
The Stork 96
What If … ? 97
A New Planet 97
Silly Questions 98
No Shoes – No Problem! 98
Celebration! 99
Parodies 99
Body Numbers 100
My Own Design 100

Star Formation 101
Word Play 101
Igloo Living 102
Be Original 102