Assign gifted students creative independent projects to occupy their time when they finish work ahead of others students. Encourage them to use critical thinking skills to identify a problem related to the current area of study and gather information to develop a solution.
Involve gifted children in academic events both inside and outside of the school. To foster science skills, organize an Invention Convention for your classroom or school. An Invention Convention is a science fair that encourages students to use their imagination to create and design new products or processes. Invention Conventions enable students to do complex problem solving and develop research and communication skills.
Avoid turning a gifted student into a tutor for other students in the classroom. Instead, nurture the talents and interests of the advanced learner. Discover the gifted student's particular area of interest and set him up with a mentor who can teach him more about that topic. To find a mentor, reach out to local organizations, parents and other teachers.
Encourage a gifted child to research a subject rather than providing him with all of the facts at the beginning of the lesson. Help develop the child's critical thinking skills by having him observe and analyze clues that you present.