Overview and Background: Unit: Understanding Self for the Gifted Student

Nelda Mallett : Cheney USD 268

Counseling. Special Education. : Giftedness/Attributes : Giftedness/Attributes

Cheney : Grades 6 - 6 : Aug. - Jun.

Title:	Understanding Self for the Gifted Student
Topics:	George Betts Autonomous Learner Model
Time Frame:	5 days
Start Date:	-
Status:	Revised
Date Revised:

Other Designers:

Summary:
To help the gifted student understand:
what being "gifted" really means in different environments, the character traits of a gifted student, and how certain traits are important and how they can be developed.

Print Materials Needed:
Character Traits Inventory

Resources:
Lewis, Barbara. What Do You Stand For?

October 2000. Kansas Regulations for Special Education.

Piirto, Jane. The Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development.

Resource Attachments:

Internet Resource Links:

Stage 1: Identify Desired Results

State:	Local Standard
Title:
Standard(s):	NO STATE STANDARDS FOR GIFTED EDUCATION

Understandings:
user	Being "gifted" means different things to different people. Talents and traits can be developed and improved.

Essential Questions:
User	What does gifted mean: does it come from "nature or nurture or both?" What character traits/talents help identify your giftedness? Can those traits/talents be developed?

Knowledge and Skills:

K
Students will discuss what "gifted" means.
Students will know the similarities/differences in the traits of a gifted student to that of a nongifted student.
Students will identify the 5 aspects of talent development.

Stage 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence

Assessment Summary:
Informal Assessment-Student will keep a personal journal of thoughts/reflections during this unit to be reviewed and discussed with gifted teacher on a one-to-one basis.
Students will research a famous person and apply the Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development to his or her life and share orally with gifted peers.

Task/Prompt: Who Were They?

Type: Performance Task

Topics: George Bett's Autonomous Learner Model, "What Do You Stand For?"

Summary:
Students will research a famous person and apply the Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development to his or her life and share orally with gifted peers.

Print Materials Needed:

Resources:

Resource Attachments:

Internet Resource Links:
Link 1: http://
Link 2: http://
Link 3: http://
Link 4: http://
Link 5: http://

Notes:

Student Directions:
You are a psychologist researching famous people. Select a famous person and apply the Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development to his or her life. You will need to orally present your findings to a group of fellow researchers.

Other assessment evidence to be collected:

Stage 3: Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction

Learning Activities:

W
Being "gifted" is not understood by people and can mean different things, even within a classroom of "gifted" students. Using a KWL chart, students will discuss what they KNOW about being gifted, what they WANT to know, and at the completion of the unit, what they LEARNED about being gifted.

H
A quote by Richard Ford will be displayed. In short, "Being gifted and having a talent may promise, but it doesn't deliver."
Teacher will give two examples of people who possessed similar talents, but only one succeeded.
Discussion of their individual attributes and their influences will conclude why that was the reason.

E
Teacher will present the research by Jane Piirto on The Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development. It is a combination of the five factors: genetic, emotional, cognitive, talent, and environmental, that leads to talent development.
The student will design in creative form (drama, music, art, and technology) applying the five aspects of The Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development, using their own personal attributes, talents, and environmental influences.
The students will reflect in their personal journal how they can take all these factors from this research and become the most effective adult.

R
The class will complete a Venn Diagram comparing the attributes/talents of a gifted student to that of a non-gifted student.

E
Teacher will evaluate unit by reviewing student's personal journal and with oral presentation of application of The Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development to his or her own life.

Notes: