What is a good topic to teach to gifted 8th graders?

Answer 1

How about reading skills on a current event?
The concept of media influences
How to read for facts in an excerpt, text, etc.
How to read test questions, since the standardized tests are the only focus in the district. (Sorry about the politics of the last one, but had to be said.)

Answer 2

Are you looking for an extended investigation, or a short-term lesson? Many middle school students are intrigued by mysteries and legends...while the entire show is not school-appropriate, "Mythbusters" style activities are always a hit, and can launch an extended investigation of urban legends, rumors, and supposed common knowledge. Other stories that have caught my middle school students' attention include the hunt for the giant squid, how snow forms and how they make it on ski slopes, and electricity. Probability is also fun...students can make their own spinners and investigate fair games of chance versus unfair games...if you have sixth graders at the school, they could even create their own little carnival booths for a mini-math carnival. Kids of this age and ability level often like having a tangible product at the end of their learning and will work harder with a goal in mind. So creating a game, a play, a commercial, or something else along those lines will add to whatever topic you teach. Whatever you choose, think about your content (what you will teach), your process (how learning will happen), and your product (what students will produce). Make sure that these are a good match to your learners, and you're guaranteed success.

Answer 3

Get their input. Most gifted kids have a great desire to learn, and if it is a topic they are genuinely interested in, they will do lots of outside research to find out more. Give them a chance to brainstorm what topics they want to learn about, then maybe groups can divide up on different aspects of the topic. Once each group has become expert on their part of the topic, they can present to the class. That way everyone gets to learn about whatever topic it is in great depth, and the kids have to practice presenting and communicating their thoughts with the class.

With gifted kids of any age, your main job is to get them started and keep them from straying too far off the main topic. (They tend to get distracted and go off on tangents because they see something else they want to know more about.)

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

@Tomodachi The fact that you felt i necessary to "qualify" yourself at the end of your post speaks volumes. It says to others that we should give more weight to what you've said because you wave credentials around. The Pharisees had a lot of credentials, too. Many heretics had credentials as well. The fact that you felt it necessary to try to flaunt your resume at the end of your post really gives LESS credibility to your words because you claim to be learned and yet you are misguided. You pretend to know what motivates God in His ability to judge. How pretentious is YOUR judgement of THE Judge. You do not know your place in relationship to the Almighty and reading your comments leads the reader to believe that you believe you know better than God how God's judgement and mercy should be poured out. I've heard this sort of talk before. It comes from someone who has an axe to grind with the Catholic Church. You may feel you were dealt with unfairly or perhaps grew up in a family that you felt was unjust. It's sad that you have had all the exposure you claim to have had with the faith and have been a supposed eyewitness, but have not seen, and have heard, but not listened. It's bad enough that your personal interpretation of the faith is misguiding you, but please keep it to yourself (and try to resolve your conflicts) rather than spill it out on others who may be inclined towards their own disorderedness. You neither help them or yourself.

Answer 5

Give them skills. Then everything they touch will turn to gold. Let them experience your guidance in internet, libraries ( school, public, and college level), let them see professionals at work, let them see firsthand the effects of geograpy in their town, let them learn from animal life in their waterways and parks or beaches. Use field trips to really teach. If you are lucky enough to be near a zoo or a museum, take full advantage and let them talk to the director in addition to the tour guide. Let them film a horticulture or oceanographic specialist in the field. (Get the local hardware store to donate some rubber boots, butterfly nets, pails and shovels.) Leave the textbooks behind, literally.

Answer 6

World Religions
Art History
History of Rock and Roll (surprisingly relevant!)
Computer Programming
Ethics (But mainly discussion based, taking issues like Animal research, or abortion, or, Health Care... maybe stick to biomedical ethics to narrow it down)

Answer 7

Humility

Answer 8

Free thinking.

Answer 9

As these kids are probably computer literate, why not try something to do with programming?

Answer 10

to listen