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Gifted learners need opportunities for critical and creative thinking to stretch their minds and imaginations. Strategies for increasing complexity in the four core areas of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies were addressed using the Common Core and Iowa Core Standards through several methods. Descriptive adjective object boxes were created, based on the themes of bees, surface area and volume, cultural beliefs and mummies, and bee colony collapse disorder. The sets of materials were used in various ways to increase the complexity of instruction in the core subject areas of literacy, mathematics, social studies, and science. The descriptive adjective boxes consisted of several small objects related to a theme with corresponding cards. This card set provided activities to increase the complexity of the topics. [This paper is based on the conference presentation, "Smartening up the Common Core: Increasing Complexity for Gifted Learners" that was presented at the Iowa Talented and Gifted (ITAG) Annual Conference: Reaching for the Future (Des Moines, Iowa, Oct 13-14 2014.)]

Instilling an appreciation of nature in our youth is an important precursor to environmental protection and support for sustainability. Research has shown that involving students in environmental projects improves their motivation, skills, and achievement on standardized tests, This document contains images of the body parts of small mammals with directions for reproducing, cutting, gluing, and assembling them (with paper fasteners) into life-size jointed models of the animals. There are two distinct versions (different color phases and poses) of each of 11 small mammals that generally live in grasslands, along creeks/ponds, or woodland edges of Midwestern habitats: Eastern Chipmunk, Franklin's Ground Squirrel, Eastern Mole, Plains Pocket Gopher, Thirteen Lined Ground Squirrel, Northern Short Tailed Shrew, Southern Bog Lemming, Meadow Vole, Meadow Jumping Mouse, Deer Mouse, and Northern Grasshopper Mouse. A set of card fronts and backs gives facts about each of the animals (to be matched to the corresponding jointed models) with an image of the correct animal on the reverse side for self-checking. The main lesson activity is explained and presented as a learning cycle. A menu of authentic activities that would make meaningful follow-on activities in the last phase of the learning cycle, the expansion phase, is presented. These are sorted into different multiple intelligence areas to provide student choice and differentiation of instruction. Each activity is accompanied with objective, instructions, rationale of how the activity is an authentic task, criteria for evaluation and an example correct response to the activity. An appendix presents "Small Mammals of Iowa: Match the Jointed Animals to Their Brief Descriptions." (Contains 14 figures.)

Creativity is a talent that undergirds invention and innovation, making it an important skill in today's society. Although students are often told to "be creative," they many times do not know how and have little practice in this skill. This document presents an analysis of 33 creative products made by adult participants at a state conference for educators working with preK-12 gifted students or their teachers as a model for what teachers can do in their classrooms to allow students to practice creative thinking. During the conference presentation, Torrance's creative strengths were reviewed with photographic examples, definitions, and suggestions printed on handouts. For the problem-solving game, each participant was given an identical set of recycled/craft materials, and about 30 minutes to create an object or scene fitting with a given theme. This presentation was delivered each of the two days of the conference with a different theme each day: "under water" was the theme the first day and "cool space" was the theme for the products on the second day. Participants each created an object that exhibited creative strengths and followed game-rules using the additional tools of scissors, glue, markers, and thread. Photographs of the final products are shown with their creative strengths identified. Most participants were successful in developing products that showed five creative strengths as required by the game rules. The most common approach to making a creative product that exhibited creative strengths was to tell an original story involving some motion that was detailed, artistically appealing, or humorous, and contained characters with emotional expressions. Because of the success and enthusiasm of participants for the game, the authors recommend it for students, clubs, and recreational activities. (Contains 7 tables and 33 figures.) [This paper was based on the Conference Presentation "Exploring Torrance's Creative Strengths by Making an Object from a Set of Given Materials" given at the Iowa Talented and Gifted Association 39th Annual Conference, October 17-18, Des Moines, IA.]

Background: Few teachers and special education specialists are aware of the materials and resources available to support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics instruction for the scattered and isolated 3000 students with sensory and motor disabilities in Iowa's K-12 schools. Additionally, faculty at many community colleges and regent institutions are not aware of possible accommodations for their students with disabilities who have interests in pursuing STEM careers. Unfortunately, this often leads to discouragement and lack of success for students with motor or sensory disabilities. This conference brings together experts and conference attendees involved in instruction, support, or transitions for these students with sensory or mobility disabilities to plan ways to remedy the problem. Purpose: This document provides a summary of a two-day conference related to assisting secondary and post-secondary students with disabilities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) areas. Highlights of the conference and the need for self-advocacy of students with disabilities are included in the narrative. In particular, this conference focused on students with sensory and mobility disabilities, including students with vision impairments, hearing impairments, students using wheelchairs, and students with movement-related health and motor impairments. The purpose of this two-day working conference was to stimulate dialog to (a) improve attitudes toward, (b) investigate ways to better support, and (c) plan accommodations/supports for students with disabilities who have interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), in secondary and post-secondary settings. This included examining ways to support students with STEM interests transitioning from high school to post-secondary education, investigating ways to support students with STEM interests transitioning from community colleges into STEM majors in 4-year colleges and universities, exploring options for resolution of issues; and advancing recommendations for improving the quality of STEM education for students with disabilities. Setting: The conference took place at the University of Northern Iowa on April 1st and 2nd, 2009. Study Sample: A group of 67 professionals from across the state of Iowa and from Midwestern institutions with exemplary programs were invited as collaborative partners. The professional positions of these individuals included high school science teachers instructing students with disabilities, special education support staff, persons from post-secondary offices of student disabilities, community college and four-year institution STEM instructors/professors, with high school, college, and matriculated students with disabilities, and engineering students in senior design (with research projects focused on wheelchair modifications and other mechanical aids for students with mobility impairments), and representatives from business and industry. The conference was also attended by 159 preservice teachers. Research Design: This is a descriptive conference report with quantitative and qualitative conference evaluation responses. Data Collection and Analysis: The two-day conference was organized to include three 30 to 50 minute panel presentations each day followed by 15 to 20-minute eight person table discussions. Attendees addressed critical issues through panel presentations. Discussions addressed focus questions in small groups related to the panel members' presentations. Responses from these discussions were recorded by volunteers typing into laptop computers during the discussions. Responses to these questions are reported elsewhere (Rule & Stefanich, in review; Rule, Stefanich, & Boody, in review). Data for this report were obtained from responses to questions on a post-conference evaluation form. These ratings were tabulated and remarks were qualitatively sorted into groups. Findings: Participant comments and ratings on the conference evaluation indicate that the organizers were successful in providing speakers who presented interesting, useful information for stimulating discussions. The most often-reported participant comment was that the conference provided an ideal setting for networking for professionals working with students with disabilities. Overall conference ratings were high, also supporting conference efficacy. Conclusion: Response to the conference from professional participants was overwhelmingly positive. Future conferences should provide opportunities for participants to try out assistive technology and provide more discussion of classroom supports. (Contains 5 tables.) [Appended is: Remarkable Technology: Handout from the Iowa Center for Assistive Technology Education and Research.]

Humor through cartoons is an interesting way to engage students in learning course content. The purpose of this study was to document the process of graduate student-made cartoons that portrayed content about principles of designing gifted education programs. Seventeen graduate students enrolled in an introductory gifted education course identified important content ideas centering on characteristics of gifted students, identification, advocacy, and gifted programming. The students created humorous cartoons related to this content. Each student chose four background scenes from sixteen choices, transforming them into complete cartoons by drawing in extra objects, figures, details, added captions, talking balloons, or other features. Students then anonymously rated the completed cartoons of class members and selected their personal "top ten," giving reasons for their choices. This information was then used to improve the most highly-rated cartoons, which are presented as an appendix here. The most frequently given reasons for positive ratings were as follows: 1) important content was addressed; 2) effective puns and word plays; 3) effective analogies; 4) humor; 5) effective, colorful, appealing visuals; and 6) emotional expressiveness of characters or wording. For the category addressing important content, the graduate students listed these reasons for rating cartoons: non-specific important content, identification issues, components of effective gifted education programs, teamwork, and handling opposition to gifted education programs. The most-favored word plays included "moo-tiple" or "Multiple, the way a cow would moo it", "herd" interpreted as a "group of animals or team of educators," and "Big eyes" (used with Red Riding Hood's wolf) for "large size eyes or being able to recognize gifted students." Some analogies were analyzed. The top sources of humor were incongruity and that students "laughed out loud." Most frequently cited suggestions for improving the cartoons included adding visuals and extra characters, more explanation in the captions, and changing or adding color to the cartoon's background or object. The graduate students reported that they enjoyed making their own cartoons and viewing those of others. It is recommended that instructors consider asking their students to portray course content in cartoon format, as this was found to be very effective in motivating students. Instructors of courses in gifted education may want to use the cartoons generated here in their courses. Twenty-eight cartoon figures are appended. (Contains 7 tables and 4 figures.) [Contributing authors include: Andrea L. Adams, Danielle L. Andvik, Angela Benham, Katie E. Broeg, Karen J. Connelly, Robert D. Dittmer, Darcy J. Fair, Lacinda A. Gillen, Karen N. Roessler, Carolyn E. McCauley, M. Sue Milligan, Marcia J. Plett, Jennifer S. Segebart, Amanda A. Skellenger, Amanda K. Smith, Tracy J. Steger, and Mary L. Zimmermann.]

Teachers need to address global climate change with students in their classrooms as evidence for consequences from these environmental changes mounts. One way to approach global climate change is through examination of authentic data. Mathematics and science may be integrated by interpreting graphs from the professional literature. This study examined the types of errors 72 preservice elementary teachers made in producing hands-on materials for teaching graph interpretation skills through graphed evidence of global climate change from the literature. The teaching materials consisted of a graph electronically manipulated on a colored background and enhanced with clip art related to the graph's topic that was then printed and mounted on colored cardboard. The graph was accompanied by six graph interpretation statements printed on cards that were to be sorted as true or false. Additionally, a topic-related object was provided for each graph for an initial activity that focused student attention and aroused interest. Four graphs with their accompanying statements and four related objects were combined into one box of materials to be used by a small group of students. Preservice teachers practiced with example sets of materials made by the course instructor and then worked to each create a new, unique set. An appendix of many sets of correct materials is provided in this ERIC document. About half of the teaching materials produced were error-free. The most common errors preservice teachers made were misuse of vocabulary and over generalizing a graph's information. Other frequent errors included not supplying enough specific information in a statement to allow its verification and misinterpreting a major trend on a graph. These problems can be attributed to preservice teachers' lack of sufficient experience in graph interpretation. Therefore, the authors conclude that the materials-making exercise was beneficial to preservice teachers and the resulting materials (with any errors corrected) can effectively be used with upper elementary and secondary students. [Contains 1 table and 1 appendix containing 18 figures accompanied by interpretation statements.]

Technology and invention are an integral part of the elementary school science curriculum, addressed by national standards. Student drawings of scientists have been studied extensively, but little is known of student mental conceptions and drawings of inventors. To uncover student's images of inventors, ninety preservice elementary teachers at a mid-sized college in central New York State drew images of both inventors and scientists, which were analyzed and compared. Both sets of drawings portrayed white, mostly male figures. Scientists were shown wearing lab coats and working with fuming chemicals in a lab, while inventors more often wore casual clothing and were shown working with inventions and tools. Two-thirds of the images showed figures of different sex than the sketchers, indicating that the elementary preservice teachers did not readily identify with either inventors or scientists. We suggest that future studies explore effective ways to increase preservice elementary teachers' understanding of and identification with the work of inventors. (Contains 3 tables.)

Elementary school science is an often-neglected subject in the current literacy-focused political atmosphere. However, reading informational trade books about science in literacy class can help children increase their science knowledge. Incorporating humor through content-related cartoons is an effective way to engage students in deeper understanding of content and creative play with language. A master's degree student enrolled in a graduate course in instructional design acted as a consultant to a faculty member teaching a course in literacy methods for preservice elementary teachers and engaged undergraduates in creating humorous cartoons to teach science content. The preservice teachers read science trade books designed for an elementary school audience and listed science content ideas and terms about a given topic (earthquakes, volcanoes, fossils, crystals, glacier, or caves). They noted confusing topic-related terms that were homophones, words with multiple meanings, or words that sounded very similar to other common words, thus identifying possible wordings for puns. Next, they analyzed given cartoons for science content and humor, making suggestions for their improvement. They completed partially-finished cartoons to convey science information in a funny way. Finally, they created original cartoons of their own using their choice of scenario. A survey was administered to the preservice elementary teachers partway through the cartoon creation process to determine ways to help them. Students reported that they learned much science information from the trade books, and discovered how difficult it was to produce humor. They noted the motivating aspects of using humor in science and working within a group of peers. They found it difficult to generate creative ideas for cartoons and suggested that they be given more example cartoons and more opportunities for group brainstorming. Color cartoon scenarios made with clip art, along with idea-prompting questions,ere provided and these increased productivity of humorous cartoons related to science content. Forty-eight color cartoons with accompanying science explanations created by the authors and preservice teachers are included as an appendix. These address the science topics of earthquakes, volcanoes, fossils, crystals, glaciers, or caves. We recommend that cartoons be used as part of science teaching because of their motivating and creative aspects. (Contains 8 tables.)

Integration of subject areas with technology and thinking skills is a way to help teachers cope with today's overloaded curriculum and to help students see the connectedness of different curriculum areas. This study compares three authentic approaches to teaching a science unit on bird adaptations for habitat that integrate thinking skills and technology skills: a problem-based learning approach utilizing the Cognitive Research Test (CoRT) Breadth thinking skills (de Bono, 2000); a thematic approach integrating several subject areas using "Talents Unlimited" thinking skills (Schlichter & Palmer, 1993); and a process skill-focused approach using object boxes (Rule, Barrera, & Stewart, 2004). Three third grade classes of students (N=60) of mixed ability and Spanish/English proficiency from a western rural community participated in this pretest- intervention-posttest study. Post-test scores showed all classes gained in knowledge of bird facts and adaptations, descriptive vocabulary, curiosity, technology self-efficacy, and knowledge of computer applications. Problem-based learning students showed the most curiosity (measured by questions generated for a topic-related image); thematic unit students excelled in computer application knowledge; while object box students showed largest gains in science knowledge, vocabulary, and computer self-efficacy. Integration of thinking skills allowed teachers to structure and scaffold learning in all three approaches. All three authentic approaches exhibited strengths along with challenges and are recommended. (Contains 12 tables.)

Today's elementary classrooms are becoming more diverse, requiring teachers to provide effective instruction to children with a wide range of academic performance, ability, background, and interest. This work focuses on the development of a menu of differentiated instructional activities for teaching literacy to upper elementary students. The author, a former elementary teacher, worked with a faculty member and her literacy methods class of undergraduate preservice elementary teachers to develop this teaching unit based on a popular, award-winning children's novel (DiCamillo, 2000). The menu of various activities organized in ten different intelligence areas (logical-mathematical, linguistic, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalist, moral, and spiritual) and arranged at different levels of Bloom's taxonomy (knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation) allows a teacher to easily select assignments designed to deepen comprehension or appreciation of this literary work to meet the individual needs of students. Each activity is accompanied by an example correct response so that teachers may gauge its demands. The reactions of preservice teachers to this project from beginning to end were examined. Before participation in the project, preservice teachers emphasized fame and recognition as being motivators and effects of publication. After participation in the project, they focused on the effects of the work on their employment opportunities, emphasizing a sense of accomplishment and downplaying fame/recognition. Appended are: (1) Menu of Ideas for Gardner's Ten Intelligence Areas at Different Levels of Bloom's Taxonomy; and (2) Acts of Kindness Writings by Preservice Teachers. (Contains 5 tables.)

All learners, including those who qualify for special education services, should have access to learning mathematical concepts. This study examined the efficacy of using hands-on sets of materials to teach two high school students with mental retardation the four situations for subtraction. This is a mixed methods study using a simple pretest-posttest design to determine correct interpretation of subtraction story problems for different situations (take-away, comparison, completion, and whole-part-part) and correct regrouping during dynamic subtraction. Eight story problems were presented to the two participants eight weeks prior to instruction; students answered an identical posttest after twelve half-hour lessons on subtraction story problems and regrouping, which occurred during a two-and-a-half week period. Qualitative teacher observations of the two students were used to triangulate the data. On the pretest, students scored poorly, with one student completing none of the eight items correctly and the other completing three. The non-take-away subtraction situations confused the students and they made many regrouping errors during dynamic subtraction. On the posttest, both students solved all the problems correctly. Teacher observations indicated that students found the hands-on materials engaging and motivating, using the manipulative's to help them during regrouping. The materials and method of teaching were effective for the following reasons: the sets of objects suited the concrete developmental stage of the students; a variety of colorful and exciting materials were used to pique and sustain student interest; the teacher modeled and verbally explained how to solve the problems using the hands-on materials; the teacher encouraged interaction and elicited students explanations; and students were moved from the concrete manipulative's to the more abstract nature of word problems. The authors recommend that these materials not only be used with primary grade students to teach subtraction situations, but with other students with special needs (19 references; 2 tables, one containing photographs of materials and the other showing the pretest/posttest questions).

Descriptive vocabulary is needed for communication and mental processing of science observations. Elementary preservice teachers in a science methods class at a mid-sized public college in central New York State increased their descriptive vocabularies through a course assignment of making a descriptive adjective object box. This teaching material consists of a set of theme-related objects with corresponding cards housed in a box. The front of each card lists four descriptive adjectives that describe physical observations of one of the objects, with an image of the object on the reverse for self-checking. The student reads these descriptive words and attempts to locate the one object to which they all refer. Preservice teachers (N = 67; 8M, 59F; 3H, 2B, 1A, 61W) took identical pretests/posttests in which they wrote descriptive adjectives for four objects. During the intervention, they explored example boxes with activities and worked in pairs to create their own sets of materials. Participants increased words generated from 17.8 to 25.7 for the four objects. The grade level of words produced also increased from 2.9 to 3.8. Both increases were statistically significant with a very large effect size (1.84) for words generated and a medium effect size (0.35) for increase in grade level of vocabulary. (Contains 5 tables and 3 figures.)

Background: Multiplication and division by fractions are among the most troublesome concepts in the elementary mathematics curriculum. Recent studies have shown that preservice elementary teachers in the United States do not have deep understandings of these concepts. Effective ways to improve preservice teachers' conceptual understanding of these concepts need to be identified. Purpose: The purpose of the study was threefold: 1) to investigate the effectiveness of two activities in helping preservice teachers develop deeper understandings of multiplication and division by fractions; 2) to identify typical errors preservice teachers make and identify difficulties they encounter while learning these concepts; and 3) to provide examples of drawings and hands-on materials that effectively model multiplication and division by fractions for others to use in learning and teaching. Setting: Preservice teachers from three mathematics methods classes of college students majoring in elementary education at a mid-sized college in central New York State during the spring semester of 2006. Study Sample: Forty-two white preservice elementary teachers enrolled in a mathematics methods course. The experimental group consisted of 18 females and 3 males; the control group consisted of 16 females and 5 males. Intervention: The study was a pretest - intervention - posttest design with control and experimental groups. Because lower-performing students tended to volunteer for the extra-credit activity (the intervention for the experimental group), blindly matched groups were formed on pretest scores. Both control group and experimental group participated in composing story problems with drawings to illustrate multiplication and division by fractions. The experimental group completed the additional activity of making hands-on materials with accompanying story problems to model multiplication and division by fractions. Research Design: Quasi-experimental; Control or Comparison Condition: Both the control group and the experimental group consisted of preservice teachers from several sections of the same instructor's undergraduate mathematics methods courses and were matched on pretest scores. Both groups completed the homework assignment in which they used drawings to illustrate multiplication and division by fractions. The instructor did not present lessons on these concepts to the classes until after the posttest had been completed so that the effects of these activities would not be confounded. The experimental group completed the additional activity of making hands-on materials to model these concepts. The study examined the increase in preservice teachers' conceptual understanding of multiplication and division by fractions through the two activities. Data Collection and Analysis: Both control and experimental groups were assessed with identical pretest/ posttest instruments constructed by the investigators to determine both procedural knowledge of solving equations involving multiplication and division by fractions and conceptual knowledge of writing equations for story problems and using drawings to illustrate concepts. Posttest scores, student work on the assessments, drawing assignment, and hands-on materials were examined along with student comments on a survey that asked what subjects learned from participating in the intervention activity. Findings: The two activities improved preservice teachers' understandings of these concepts as revealed by the change in scores from pretest to posttest (50.8% on pretest to 67.5% and 71.4%). Those who completed both assignments scored somewhat higher (71.4% compared to 67.5%) than those who only completed the drawing assignment, but this difference was not statistically significant. Preservice teachers reported that their understandings of these concepts improved through the activities. Conclusion: The two activities increased student understandings of multiplication and division by fractions. Although students improved through the activities, many students' understandings were still incomplete. More than two focused activities are needed to ensure deeper understanding of concepts. Preservice teachers need concrete experiences with these concepts in their mathematics classes as well as in mathematics education coursework. Citation: Rule, A. C., & Hallagan, J., editors. (2006). Preservice elementary teachers use drawings and make sets of materials to explain multiplication and division by fractions. (Contains 6 tables.)

A study was conducted with forty-seven preservice childhood (elementary) education teachers (42 F, 5 M) enrolled in two mathematics methods classes taught by the same instructor to determine the effect of these college students making curriculum materials appropriate for upper elementary students on the preservice teachers' knowledge of numeration, algebra, geometry, and measurement. A "Mathematical Mystery Object Box" is a box containing a set of objects with corresponding clue cards. The student reads the mathematical clues addressing numeration, algebra, geometry, and measurement and attempts to locate the object that satisfies them, checking work with the picture of the correct object on the reverse side of each clue card. The study used an identical pretest/post test design with a 20-item instrument tied to the New York State Standards for Mathematics for grades four through six. Preservice teacher scores on the pretest administered the first day of class were low (mean = 54%, standard deviation = 18%). However, without any class instruction or review, but through creating teaching materials for elementary students, the post test scores of preservice teachers increased significantly on the post test given nine weeks later (mean = 71%, s. d. = 14%). This indicates the amount of learning that occurs when preparing materials to teach others. Example mystery object box materials created by the preservice teachers are provided. (Contains 4 tables.)

Sixty poems focusing on elementary mathematics topics such as matching, classification, sequencing, counting, addition, subtraction, place value, decimals, multiplication, division, fractions, estimation, probability, patterns, shapes, symmetry, triangles, circles, polygons, angles, Venn diagrams, bar graphs, money, time, and measurement, are presented in this document. Poems display a variety of formats including acrostic, haiku, limerick, and rhyming verse. Each contains mathematical facts about the topic. Preservice teachers enrolled in a mathematics education course wrote the majority of poems. Poems may be used in a enrich elementary student learning and as models for other preservice teachers who may use poetry writing to review, make connections, and discover concept for which they have unclear understandings. Preservice teachers who wrote poetry in the first editor's class reported that the experience helped them develop more positive feelings about mathematics. (Author)