Exploring the Solar System: A science enrichment course for gifted elementary school students

摘要

"Exploring the Solar System" is a science enrichment program taught at the Lunar and Planetary Institute for gifted fifth grade students from the local Clear Creek Independent School District. The school district selects which students are qualified to participate in the gifted enrichment program. In fifth grade, each student is allowed to choose one enrichment course to attend during the fall semester. "Exploring the Solar System" has been taught 16 times since 1992. The course is taught during the normal school day. Approximately 20 students meet at LPI for three hours on each of 12 consecutive weeks. We use a pre-test and post-test to assess what the students have learned, but no formal grades are assigned. In teaching elementary and middle school students, it is essential to have good activities. Slide presentations are sometimes necessary to convey basic facts, but they work best if they are kept short and are interspersed with related activities. It is also essential to make lectures interactive, by posing questions to the students.