A NASA Approach to GT Teaching

Lisa Seay

• 6th Grade Science Teacher and GT Teacher

Sherry Marshall

• Director of Oklahoma Museum Network

Experts!!

•Ex----has been

•Spurt---a drip under pressure

The Zebra’s Search

Story timeWith Auntie Lisa

Once upon a time there was a chubby zebra who lived in a herd

of horses.

The zebra did okay, but something was missing.

The zebra felt she just didn’t fit in.

One day, the zebra traveled to someplace new.

Surprise! She found lots of other zebras!

They played zebra games.

They ate zebra food.

They loved each other, if for no other reason than they were all

zebras together.

GT Students can’t be pigeonholed.

• They usually aren’t misfits. (but they can be.)

• They aren’t nerds, dorks, brainiacs or geeks. (but they can be.)

• They don’t come from the best families. (but they sometimes do.)

• They aren’t mostly white males (but they sometimes are.)

What do GT kids need from us?

• They are looking for their “herd of zebras”.

• Their passion.

• Their niche.

Why is it challenging to teach GT kids?

• They usually think differently…

• A B C D

• A D B Q

Here’s a tool for your toolbox….

Inquiry!!!

Inquiry vs. Hands On

• Hands on---cookbook labs

• Inquiry---discovery

So…I just let them play???

• No way!!

• Inquiry has to be planned very carefully.

• It’s harder to guide and facilitate that it is to lecture and direct.

Steps of Inquiry

• Introduction

• Discovery

• Follow-up discussion (This is the most important step…don’t skip it!!)

So…how can NASA help me?

Meet your newBest friend…

www.nasa.gov

NASA Inquiry

• It’s not rocket science…oh wait. Yes it is.

• Engineering challenges– Heat shield– Launch challenges– Water filtration

Let’s play!!!

Rocket time with Ms. Sherry!